Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.gracespringfield.com/sermons/43026/revelation-chapter-twelve/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Well, good morning. I want to thank you all for being here. Appreciate the opportunity to start out the new year with an occasion like this. It's a real blessing and encouragement to me each month that we meet together to consider what the Lord has for us from his word.

[0:17] And today is no exception. So let's begin with a word of prayer. We are grateful, our Father, for your loving kindness and faithfulness to us that is demonstrated in so many ways, many of which we're not even aware.

[0:32] Thank you for being the sovereign God that you are. Thank you for life itself and for giving us the privilege of making some small contribution to your overall plan. We deem it a pleasure and an honor. Thank you for the presence of each one here this day.

[0:47] We pray for an understanding of the text and the implications thereof. We commit this time of fellowship and study to you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

[1:01] We have reached approximately the halfway point of our study of the revelation, the apocalypse. And as I read the first few verses, there is something that comes to my mind.

[1:14] I don't know if it strikes you or not, but we have been reading about some really horrendous things. Just mind boggling concepts that have developed in these first 11 chapters of revelation.

[1:33] There is a perpetual emphasis upon the supernatural in a way that you do not find it in the rest of the Bible. Granted, we have the supernatural in the book of Genesis and Exodus.

[1:47] We have the accounts of Moses and Pharaoh and the amazing escape from Egypt and so on. And the supernatural events that accompanied that. We have a few during the time of the prophets.

[1:59] We have more of them during the earthly ministry of Christ when he was performing miracles on an almost regular basis. And we even have some incidents of the miraculous in the apostolic period.

[2:15] But for what is known as the church age or the dispensation of the grace of God, there isn't much mention of the miraculous at all.

[2:27] And part of the reason for that is because we are called upon to walk by faith and not by sight. Walking by sight, of course, has to do a lot with the miraculous, the demonstrable, what is obvious, what you can see and what you can hear.

[2:42] The day of grace is not characterized by walking by sight. It is characterized by walking in faith. And when you do that, it simply means that you do not demand nor expect from God the miraculous.

[2:55] You simply take God at his word and what it says in the word and you let that suffice. That's walking by faith, not by sight. However, once the church age is complete, the body of Christ has been removed through the rapture.

[3:13] And the Antichrist is on the scene. Things begin popping and they are of a miraculous supernatural level on just about every front.

[3:26] Really weird things are happening with descriptions being given of beasts and of phenomena that the world has never seen before.

[3:39] It is as if everything opens up and that which has been behind the scenes in the supernatural just splashes forth in an incredible array of events, one right after another.

[3:56] This is very apparent as you get up into and through the book of Revelation where we are now. And when I come to chapter 12 and realize that the contents of chapter 12 are really not chronological in that we are not making progress through chapter 12.

[4:16] It is an account. It is an overarching account of all that has and will transpire.

[4:28] Well, let me put it this way. Having read and tried to absorb the first 11 chapters of Revelation, the thought that comes to my mind is, wait a minute.

[4:43] What is this all about? Where is all of this going? All of this, all of this conflagration, all of this tribulation is happening. Where is all this going?

[4:54] And where does it come from? And what's the point to all of this? And it is as if the Spirit of God just puts the brakes on everything and says, all right, now I'm going to explain what is really transpiring behind the scenes.

[5:12] John has given us a vivid description of the visions that he has seen. But what we are going to engage today is the rationale, the wherewithal, the behind the scenes that is revealed in a way that is just absolutely remarkable.

[5:32] So let's begin. We've got our 26th translation before us. And I want you to follow along, if you will, beginning with verse 1 of chapter 12.

[5:45] And there appeared a great wonder in heaven. A sign is the way the word wonder is actually translated. And the sign is that, of course, which always points to something.

[6:01] The sign is an indicator. And when John says, it is a great sign or great wonder in heaven, and he goes on to describe what he is viewing.

[6:11] A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars.

[6:28] Can you even imagine a scene like this? John says, it's a woman. Now, ladies have always been concerned, as long as I can remember, with her wardrobe.

[6:44] Well, this is an extraordinary wardrobe. Clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars, wearing it like a tiara or a diadem.

[7:05] It must have been some sight. And she, being with child. Now, this is a unique enough woman that is being described to begin with.

[7:18] But on top of it, she's pregnant. Can you imagine what this must have looked like? John is just describing what he's looking at. Clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, on her head 12 stars, And being with child, cried, traveling in birth, and pained to be delivered.

[7:41] This is a woman in agony. She is great with child. She is about to be delivered of her child. And, verse 3 tells us, There appeared another wonder in heaven.

[7:57] And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns. We've seen this before, and we will see it again.

[8:11] Seven heads and ten horns. And let me remind you, the heads are representative of territorial or national entities.

[8:24] And the horns are representative of individuals. We see the little horn that appears in Daniel chapter 9 and 10. And there it is, the personage of the Antichrist.

[8:37] This one has seven heads, ten horns, attached to this dragon-like red crimson creature. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth.

[8:58] And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered, for to, or so as to, devour her child as soon as it was born.

[9:16] Now, of course, the question that automatically surfaces, Who is this woman? Depends on who you ask. If you ask the Roman Catholic Church, they will tell you that the woman is Mary.

[9:31] And that she is about to give birth to Jesus. Well, that has some merit, I suppose. If you talk to some Protestants, they will say that it is the church.

[9:42] And she, the church is about to give birth to Christ. Some Catholics, of course, feel that it's the church also. And that the church has given birth to Christ, as it were. And if you are of the persuasion of Mary Baker Glover Patterson Eddy, who in the late 1800s founded a cult called Christian Science, she interpreted this passage as referring to herself.

[10:07] And the child that she was bringing forth was Christian Science. And the beast that was waiting to devour the child was the mind of mortal man, whatever that means.

[10:21] But that's just one of a wild number of interpretations. And just up front, I want to lay out here what I am convinced the scriptures are teaching regarding this.

[10:33] And that is, it is not Mary. It is not the church. This is clearly the nation of Israel. Most of the revelation deals with the nation of Israel, not the church.

[10:51] The church is removed from the scene very early on. And what we have in the balance of the revelation refers to the great conflict that is going to take place in which the nation of Israel will be the centerpiece.

[11:09] And I think the scriptures make that very clear. And of course, the man child that is to be brought forth is identified as the one who in verse 5 is to rule all nations with a rod of iron.

[11:23] And her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. So we have Israel being the parent nation of the Messiah through the 12 tribes.

[11:37] And in particular, the tribe of Judah through whom the Messiah was to come. But the point that I want to make right here and now, and I'm going to stop for just a moment because this is really important.

[11:49] And that is between verses 5 and 6, there is a prophetic gap. And if you do not understand that, you'll have great difficulty making sense of this.

[12:03] What we have in verse 5 is not only the birth of Christ and his entire life all assumed in this one verse.

[12:14] But we also have the conclusion of his earthly ministry via the ascension. This is what verse 5 is talking about. It doesn't give any idea at all that once this one is born.

[12:29] You see, she brought forth a man child in verse 5. But that's just the baby in the manger, if you will. It doesn't say anything at all about his earthly life, about his being baptized and introduced to Israel as the Messiah, about the miracles that he performed.

[12:46] It doesn't say anything about the death, burial, and resurrection, and all the rest. It just cuts right to the chase. He is born. And then the next thing you read, he is ascended.

[12:57] It simply omits everything that is in between. But of course, we know what took place in between. And then, in verse 6, we have a quantum leap of time from the ascension of Christ to the tribulation period.

[13:13] And here, the whole of the church age is skipped over. It isn't mentioned at all. So understand, if you will, that verse 6, where the woman is led into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand, two hundred, and threescore days.

[13:38] And what is that? That is 42 months. That is three and one half years. A figure that we have seen repeatedly, and a figure that divides the great tribulation period.

[13:53] Because when the nation of Israel is going to flee to this place of refuge, is at the middle of the tribulation period. This is when, that time spoken of by Christ, when the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, then let him that is in Jerusalem flee to the mountains, etc.

[14:15] This is when the Antichrist is revealed for who he is. He has signed a seven-year guaranteed peace pact with the nation of Israel, guaranteeing their freedom and their borders and their safety for seven years.

[14:30] In the middle of that 70th week of Daniel, the seven-year period, he violates the treaty, and he reveals himself. He causes the sacrifice and oblation in the temple to cease.

[14:42] He reveals himself to be the Antichrist. He stands in the most holy place and declares that he is God and demands to be worshipped. Christ said in Matthew 24, when you see that happen, get out of town.

[14:58] Everything is going to break loose. We believe where the children of Israel is going to flee to is southern Edom. Edom is the area that was occupied by the descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob.

[15:16] And it is there in the city of Petra, which is still in existence today and is a huge tourist attraction. We believe that's where they are going to quarter themselves during this time.

[15:30] What's going to prevent them from being annihilated under those circumstances with artillery or with air power or rockets or bombs? I don't know. Other than the fact that they appear to be supernaturally protected during that time.

[15:44] And this is the wilderness that is being spoken of, I believe, in verse 6. There she has a place prepared of God. This is a specially designated place where they will be able to survive for the balance of the tribulation period.

[16:01] And now we read in verse 7. And there was war in heaven. Best as I can determine, and this is just a Wiseman opinion and a Wiseman interpretation.

[16:14] And by the way, you've heard me say in the past, and so say I now again, that no mere human being is capable enough, smart enough, or competent enough to really interpret the scriptures.

[16:27] Everybody is in over their head. And that is why we must allow the scriptures to interpret themselves. And it will do so.

[16:40] If we compare scripture with scripture, if you get a good concordance and a good Bible dictionary, and you're able to search out these things so that you compare scripture with scripture, you will see how the Bible is a self-interpreting book.

[16:55] And only it is able to give authoritative interpretations of the passages that transpire. Now, what we're going to have is an absolutely amazing thing.

[17:12] This war that is going to be in heaven, I believe, is yet future. It is going to transpire in connection with, and in fact, it might even be a result of, the rapture of the church.

[17:31] I do not know that. Again, I want to warn you, be careful of the chronology here, because events and their significance are being explained more than is chronological detail.

[17:44] Some of our tribulational friends think that this war in heaven, in verse 7, that is going to be breaking out, is a result of the rapture.

[18:05] Picture this scene, if you will. And I don't know that this is valid, but I don't know that it isn't as well. There is going to be an incredible exodus of believers from the earth at the time of the rapture.

[18:28] This is spelled out quite clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4 and also in 1 Corinthians 15. I do not know exactly in what form or shape we are going to be when we exit.

[18:46] Some are of the opinion that these are just spirits of believers, not bodies. However, we are going to be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and we don't know exactly what it is that we are going to be changed into, except it is going to be incorruptible.

[19:06] And it is going to be some kind of entity that is capable of penetrating the either in a way that we cannot. We're just at a loss to really explain this.

[19:20] A lot has to do with what is going to be left behind when the rapture takes place. And it's very difficult. In my opinion, it's impossible to be dogmatic about this.

[19:31] Some are of the opinion. And I guess one is as valid as another. Some are of the opinion that it is just our spirit that is going to exit the body and leave the physical body behind.

[19:45] And if that is the case, then it is just going to appear that all of these people died from whatever. There are just corpses everywhere.

[19:59] Spirits of believers have vacated the body, left this earthly tent behind. That is a possibility. It could be the result of some enormous plague worldwide, some kind of epidemic.

[20:13] It could be the result of some kind of nuclear activity whereby millions of people could be eliminated or vaporized, if you will, in a matter of seconds.

[20:25] That's a possibility. And the spirits are entering the atmosphere unseen because the human spirit is intangible and not physical.

[20:36] So it would not be seen any more than the spirit of your loved one when they die. They exit their body and go to be with the Lord, but you don't see them.

[20:48] However, angelic beings are spirit beings. They, too, are able to assume a physical form. But it appears that in their natural state, they are immaterial beings.

[21:01] They are called ministering spirits sent to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. We know there are different kinds of spirits. There are those that are fallen. And I do believe that what we have here in verse 4 that says that the tail of the serpent or of the dragon drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth.

[21:26] But most are of the opinion, and I would agree with them, that these are fallen angelic beings, one third of which God created, threw in their lot with Lucifer when he rebelled against God.

[21:42] They became demonic beings or demonic spirits. And they are active in the world today. Some of them, however, are incarcerated in the pit or the abyss that we looked at in an earlier chapter in Revelation.

[21:58] And they are going to be released from that. However, when these spirit beings of believers exit the earth and are going to heaven, who is the prince of the power of the air?

[22:14] Satan is. They are referred to as principalities and powers of the air.

[22:24] They are demonic beings. They are very active. They are very real. They are also immaterial. But they are there. Daniel talks about this. And Michael, the archangel, who is peculiarly assigned to the nation of Israel.

[22:45] By the way, I want you to think of Michael as the warrior angel, because that's what he is. Gabriel is the messenger angel, and he delivers several important messages in the Old Testament and in the New.

[22:58] But Michael is the one who has already, in a very, very mysterious way, confronted Satan regarding the body of Moses.

[23:15] Remember that? In Exodus, when Moses died and God had him buried there in Mount Nebo? Michael, the archangel, contended with Satan regarding the body of Moses.

[23:35] There's a lot more there than meets the eye. What is that all about? It's referred to in the book of Jude. And Michael, the archangel, did not bring an accusation against Satan, saying, The Lord rebuke you.

[23:55] So, all I can say is that there is a hierarchical range in these beings, and Lucifer appeared to have been the very top dog, if you will.

[24:09] And even Michael was some degree under him, as well as Gabriel. There is an order in the angelic sphere.

[24:20] It appears that none was greater in power or wisdom or beauty than Lucifer. And he is going to attempt to actually intercept saints who are exiting the earth en route to the Lord's presence in the rapture in the heavenlies.

[24:48] I know this really sounds bizarre. It is bizarre. I would not deny it. But John describes it as saying there was war in heaven.

[25:00] I really think that this is future. That's a Wiseman opinion, but give it some thought. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels.

[25:14] This is a cosmic conflict taking place. What do these angels fight with? We have no idea. But I can assure you it isn't cannons and guns and bombs and bullets and things like that.

[25:28] I don't know what their weapons are. I don't know how they engage in conflict. We aren't told. But we are told that it is going to result in war in heaven, and it may well be an effort to thwart the saints from penetrating the atmosphere and getting to where they are supposed to be.

[25:51] Have you ever heard of... I don't know that we have time to go there. I'll just refer to it. But in the book of Daniel, Daniel referred to Michael, the archangel, coming to him to sustain him, and he was delayed in his coming because he said, The prince of Persia confronted me and hindered me from arriving when I intended.

[26:25] The prince of Persia. Who is that? It would appear to be some kind of angelic being, maybe even Lucifer himself.

[26:38] And does anybody know the modern name of Persia? Iran. And most Iranians will tell you and make a distinction, a careful distinction.

[26:50] Iranians resent being called Arabs. Don't call an Iranian an Arab. He's a Muslim, but he's not an Arab.

[27:01] He said, I'm a Persian. And they go by the old designation Persian. So there is some kind of force at work in the angelic sphere that represents a cosmic conflict of the ages.

[27:17] And this is what the revelation is all about. Really, it starts in the book of Genesis. It goes all the way back there.

[27:28] And all the rest of the Bible is detailing this cosmic conflict and how God is using humanity to resolve the angelic conflict. This is a conflict that began way back whenever Lucifer rebelled before man was ever created.

[27:46] But when they attempt to prevent believers, if this is correct, and they attempt to prevent believers from entering the presence of God, because this is their bailiwick.

[27:59] They are in the heavenlies. They are referred to as the prince. Satan himself is called the prince and the power of the air. He's also called the god of this age.

[28:11] And others who are his minions constitute the principalities and powers. But they will not prevail. They are defeated by Michael and his angels. Neither was their place found anymore in heaven.

[28:25] And the great dragon was cast out. That old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world.

[28:38] Really? Think of that. A whole world in deception? Could the whole world be wrong? The whole world has been wrong.

[28:49] This means that Satan succeeded in deceiving Old Testament pagans, the Baals, Nimrod, Samarimus, the Canaanites, the Sodomites, Islam, Buddhists, Confucian, Hindus, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Communists, Atheists, and Darwinists.

[29:16] All deceived. Deception is when you succeed in making people think that things are other than they are. That's what deception is all about.

[29:28] And Satan's principal tools. Paul said we are not ignorant of his devices. His devices are deception, violence, death, viciousness.

[29:41] This is what he is all about. Anytime you see great violence and viciousness taking place, you may be certain that it is the way of Satan. And when we are told in Genesis chapter 6 that God beheld the earth and behold, the whole earth was filled with violence.

[30:03] And it simply means that Satan had been successful in corrupting the whole of humanity. And he still is. The whole of humanity is corrupted today.

[30:16] Not only humanity, but the institutions of humanity. And this is exactly what's taking place today. The dragon was cast out.

[30:27] That old serpent. Called the devil and Satan, which deceives the whole world. Now, if this is true, and I believe it is, then this means that Satan has some kind of access to heaven.

[30:43] Even now. And it would appear that he has to, in order to be able to be the accuser of the brethren. And that is mentioned in verse 10.

[30:56] He is the accuser of the brethren. He is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. That has to mean, I think, that he has access to the throne of God.

[31:10] Now, we would say, my question would be, why didn't God kick him out a long time ago? Why has he been willing to tolerate it? I have no idea. But obviously, it suits God's purpose for him to have access.

[31:23] We know, according to the book of Job, that Satan had access to God and communicated with him. And he was challenged to consider Job his servant, etc.

[31:37] And you all know the story of the book of Job. So, if this be the case, and I think it is, then that means that Satan, even at this present time, has access to God and to the throne of God.

[31:53] But here, he loses it. Here, he is finally, summarily, dismissed. And he is cast out of heaven into the earth.

[32:07] And his angels were cast out with him. Guess where they are cast to? Yes. And guess when this occurs?

[32:19] It appears to be in the middle of the 70th week. And when is it that really things heat up in an incredibly intense way in the tribulation period?

[32:32] It is in the middle of the week. Is it a coincidence that Satan and his minions are cast out of heaven, confined to earth, in the middle of the 70th week, when things really, really heat up?

[32:52] This is when the hammer comes down in a way that it has never been known on earth. This is the time of Jacob's trouble, that is. That is really, really huge.

[33:03] So we are told that the accuser of the brethren, which accused them before our God day and night. You remember the verse in 1 John, little children, these things write I unto you that you sin not.

[33:19] And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And as Satan accuses the brethren, of what does he accuse us?

[33:32] Of everything for which we are accusable. What are we accusable for? Anytime you and I walk or act out of the flesh, we bring an occasion for Satan's accusation against us.

[33:50] He can point to us and say, looky there, see that? Is that what you call a Christian? Is that someone who loves you? Do you see what he did?

[34:00] Do you see what he said? On and on and on. I don't know how this works or how it takes place, but I do know that the only basis for our withstanding Satan's accusations, and by the way, they don't have to be false accusations.

[34:15] They wouldn't be. They could be true accusations. We can really make a mess of things from time to time, can't we? So we could stand justly accused. And our only avenue of escape is, of course, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb.

[34:31] And that is our only plea. It is the righteousness of Christ and what it secured for us, not our works, not our faithfulness, not our this or that or anything else. It is the word of our testimony, overcame him by the blood of the lamb.

[34:45] And they love not their lives unto the death. And this, I think, is tribulational content there as well. So rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.

[34:57] Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea. Why? Because the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

[35:21] I don't know to what degree he understands God's timetable, but it could very well be that he has a handle on it. And if this is the case, he knows that he has three and one half years to raise all the ruckus that he possibly can.

[35:38] And this is another way of saying in this verse, look out world, here comes the devil and he's going to do his damnedest. And it is going to be conflagration that won't quit.

[35:52] It's going to be absolutely incredible. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth. And verse 13, And when the dragon Saul realized that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child.

[36:16] That's not Mary. That's Israel. It's not the church. The church isn't here. This is Israel. And where is Israel? Well, scattered, but for the most part, at least much of the remnant of Israel will be right there in southern Jordan, in the area of Petra.

[36:37] And we are told that the woman, to the woman, he's seeing this sign, were given two wings of a great eagle.

[36:49] That this woman that she has been, that he has been looking at, clothed with the sun, with the moon at her feet and the 12 stars, she is given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place.

[37:08] And Ream says, into the desert. And I believe this is exactly what it is, which is where the Petra is located, where she is nourished, or fed, or sustained, or cared for, for a time, one, and times, that's two, plus one, makes three, and a half a time, which is three and a half.

[37:35] This is the 42 months, the last half of the tribulation period, from the face of the serpent. And I want you to keep in mind, that for the most part, Satan is going to be so fired up, and so angry, because he has never really won a major conflict.

[38:00] He has lost one after another. He has not succeeded. If you look back on history, and I cannot say, that Satan was directly involved, in all of these, because, the scriptures, simply do not say so.

[38:15] But it does make you wonder, when the seed of the woman, is promised, that will crush the head, of the serpent, and who will have his heel bruised, by the serpent. And Satan was actively involved, in all of that, and we know that he was the one, who tempted Eve.

[38:34] He knew about the promise, of the seed coming. Could it be, I'm asking this as a question, I'm not saying that this is the way it was, but I'm saying, it makes you wonder.

[38:46] Could it be, that he thought, the seed, was able, and he influenced Cain, to kill him?

[39:01] Makes you wonder. Now the text doesn't say that, and it would be reading, into the white spaces, but it does make you wonder. A lot of satanic stuff, goes on behind the scenes, that we perhaps, have little or no appreciation for.

[39:16] And I, before I go any further, I want to give you, what I think is a classic illustration, of what I just said, about the Bible, being a self-interpreting book. And we've got to go back, to Genesis chapter 37, because you realize, there are two outstanding commentaries, on the book of Revelation.

[39:34] One is Daniel, and the other is Genesis. And actually, some of the other prophets as well. But, you don't ordinarily think of Genesis, as being a commentary, on Revelation.

[39:45] You can never understand Revelation, without Genesis. Because, Genesis records the beginning, of this great cosmic conflict. And all of the rest of the Bible, is a continuation of it.

[39:56] And the Revelation, is the conclusion of it. So, when we look at, Genesis chapter 37, we have a passage, that is very, very enigmatic. And I'm going to begin, I'm going to begin, with verse 5.

[40:10] We'll just jump in here. You're, you're familiar with Joseph, and his brothers. Genesis 37, Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it, to his brothers, they hated him, even more.

[40:25] And he said to them, please listen, to this dream, which I have had. For behold, we were binding sheaves, in the field.

[40:38] Now this is something, that they did often. They were often, out in the field, binding sheave. Joseph said, I had this, incredible dream. I dreamt that we were, out in the field, binding sheaves, you know, just like we always do.

[40:52] And lo, my sheave, rose up, and also stood erect. And behold, your sheaves, gathered around, and bowed down, to my sheave.

[41:11] Then his brothers, said to him, are you actually, going to reign, over us? Or are you, really going, to rule, over us?

[41:23] So they hated him, even more, for his dreams, and for his words. Now, he had still, another dream, and related it, to his brothers, and said, lo, I have had, still another dream.

[41:40] And behold, the sun, and the moon, and eleven stars, were bowing down, to me. And he related this, to his father, and to his brothers, and his father, rebuked him, and said to him, what is this dream, that you have had?

[42:00] Shall I, and your mother, and your brothers, actually come, to bow ourselves, down before you, to the ground? Well, yes. And when, and how would that happen?

[42:13] Joseph's going, to be sold, into Egypt, you know the story, and the brothers, come down there, looking for grain. And when they find out, it was Joseph, Joseph, is second, over all of Egypt, and his brothers, do, literally, bow down to him, and pay obeisance, to him.

[42:32] And even his aged father, when he is brought down, to Egypt, recognizes, Joseph's position, of superiority. But I think, it is fascinating, to read what goes on.

[42:44] Shall I, and your mother, and your brothers, actually come, to bow ourselves, down before you, to the ground? And all his brothers, were jealous of him. Listen to this though. But his father, kept the saying, in mind.

[43:03] I can just see, his father, scratching his head, and saying, what do you suppose, this is all about? Is there something, going on here? Father, kept this in mind.

[43:14] He saw something, peculiar about that. Well, where does this, really surface? It surfaces, in that beautiful, symbolic, imagery, of the woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon, at the feet, and the stars, in her diadem.

[43:31] There is no mistaking, the connection, between, Israel, and Israel. Genesis, and Revelation.

[43:43] They are in the thick, of this great conflict, because it is this nation, of Israel, that God is using, not only to bring, the Messiah, into the world, but to eventually, resolve the angelic conflict, and establish the kingdom, that Christ came to establish, and that Israel, rejected earlier.

[44:05] And Israel, is right in the thick of it. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their descendants. Major players, in this whole thing. They have been, center stage, all through, human history.

[44:20] And, point of the fact is, they still are. I have told you before, that, in Jerusalem, there is, a greater, concentration, of international, news, media, established, than there is, any other, nation, in the world, with the exception, of Washington, D.C.

[44:46] Not Paris, not London, not Moscow, but Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Because, everybody, really knows, that's where it's at.

[44:58] And that's what's going to be happening. That's going to be, the flashpoint, for all of this. And, it is, perhaps, a lot closer, than we think.

[45:11] The serpent, is cast, will cast out of his mouth, water, as a flood, after the woman, that he might, cause her, to be carried away, of the flood.

[45:22] I don't know, how to take this, whether this is symbolic, but it may, very well, be literal. If you know, anything about the terrain, and the geography, of this part of the world, you will know, that, water, is a, great scarcity.

[45:41] And, the Jordan River, is just about, almost dried up. It's not, anything like it used to be, because, they keep siphoning off, to use for agriculture, etc. But, water, is in great demand there.

[45:53] And, this is a pretty dry area. But, the time is coming, when, that's not going to be the case. And, we do not know, what the mechanics of this might be. But, it is entirely possible, that, there is going to be, some kind, of a, local, supply of water, that could, create a flooding situation, especially for these people.

[46:18] If you know anything, about Petra, if you've ever seen pictures of it, on TV, it's a, it's a massive place, and, and I look forward to visiting there, sometime. It's in southern Transjordan, and it is very ancient, it's mentioned in the book of Obadiah, and there are, huge edifices, that are carved, right out of the limestone, and it is beautiful red, in colors, called the rose red city of Petra.

[46:43] And, if you read the book of Obadiah, it says something about it there. And, and, many believe, that this is where Israel, is going to be sheltered. And, if there could be, a torrent of water, headed that way, to course into that, literally, it would be just like a canyon, that could fill up with water, and, and the inhabitants could be, could be drowned.

[47:07] There's no question about that. If that's what is described here, and taking it literally, that's the way it seems to be. However, we are told that, in the text, and I would take this literally too, that, the earth, verse 16, helped the woman, and the earth, opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast, out of his mouth.

[47:32] And, it could be, the dragon casting this out of his mouth, was simply, giving the order for the water to be released, or whatever. And, he would have been behind it. And, the only thing that saves them, is that the earth opens, and, simply swallows up the water.

[47:49] This could be the result of an earthquake, which is entirely possible, and is going to be very characteristic, of this geography, and, of this particular time. There's going to be a lot of earthquake activity, all around.

[48:01] I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but, Israel, and Jordan, and, in fact, the whole, valley, of Kidron, that runs right down through Israel, north and south, and you can, stand on the wall, of the old city of Jerusalem, and look over the wall, and you're looking right down, on the valley of Kidron.

[48:27] The Kidron Valley, that Christ crossed over, and on the other side, up on the hill, is the Mount of Olives. And, that Kidron Valley, is part, of the great, defile.

[48:38] This is the great, African rift, that runs all the way, from northern Israel, all the way down, through, the, through, chance Jordan, and into Africa, and it is part, of the African rift.

[48:52] It is a great, defile, in the earth. Probably, I guess it's, the, the deepest one, and the greatest one, in the whole world. And, it, could very well, play an important part, in what we are talking, about here.

[49:05] But, it's going to be a time, of just, incredible, incredible activity, that we just, cannot fathom. And then, well, page 13, chapter 13, is on the reverse side.

[49:21] We just have, and the dragon, was wroth with a woman, and went to make war, with the remnant, of her seed, which keep the commandments, of God, and have the testimony, of Jesus Christ.

[49:33] And, that will, then conclude chapter 11. So, I suspect, that we've generated, a lot of questions, or comments, and, we'll be free, to entertain them now.

[49:44] So, if you, have anything, you'd like to offer, we'd like to hear it. Anybody? Yes? Okay. Verse 13.

[49:56] Mm-hmm. But, before that, when we know that, Satan, as you say, had some kind of access, to heaven, to the term of God, when he, was cast on the earth, do you think, from that moment on, he had no more access?

[50:10] Just, yeah, that's, that's the impression, that I, that I get, because of, that would make him mad.

[50:20] Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, he's, he's cast down to earth, and all those devils with him, and they will not be, in a good mood. And, yes, they're going to take it out, on, they're going to take it out, on everybody.

[50:33] Everybody, and anybody. Because, when you're coming off, of a string of defeats, everybody knows, that, a good football team, doesn't care to come up, against the team, that's lost, its last three games.

[50:48] God, man, they're going to be, loaded for bear. You know, loss, losses of any kind, destabilize our ego, and make us, revengeful.

[51:01] And, that's exactly, what he's going to be. He's going to have, great anger. He's going to muster, great hatred, and pull out, all the stops. And, he knows that he's got, a limited amount of time, to get it done in.

[51:13] And, he's going to make, the most of it. And, who's going to pay the price? The inhabitants, on the earth. But, you know what? They will have it coming.

[51:25] Think of that. This is going to be, justice, administered. And, God is even going to, use, this kind, of activity, to do it.

[51:38] Passage I want to, close with, is in, in, in, first Corinthians, it's a, fascinating, fascinating concept.

[51:51] You've heard about, the mystery, of the Messiah, the mystery of Christ, the essence of it. and, what that consists of, is just, just mind boggling.

[52:05] First Corinthians, two, and verse six, Paul says, yet, we do speak wisdom, among those, who are mature, wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers, of this age, who are passing away.

[52:20] But, we speak, God's wisdom, in a mystery. What is that? The hidden wisdom, which God, predestined, before the ages, to our glory.

[52:38] God, predestined, before the ages, to, or for, our ultimate glory. What is that? That, is the mystery of Christ, the mystery of the Messiah.

[52:50] We, read in, the revelation, that Christ, is the Lamb, of God, slain when? Slain before the ages, of the world.

[53:03] In the mind of God, Christ was crucified, before the world, was ever even created. And he goes on to say, the wisdom, which none, of the rulers, of this age, has understood.

[53:18] Who are the rulers, of this age? They are satanic. Paul will describe, in 2 Corinthians 4, Satan, as, the God, of this age.

[53:36] The God, of this world. And God, had, put, in his mind, a plan, that, none, of the rulers, of this age, knew, or understood.

[53:49] And I don't think, even the, even the, unfallen angels, understood it. Because Peter talks about, the angels, not understanding, our redemption, and they have a desire, to just, pull back a corner of it, and peek, and see what we've got.

[54:04] And, you know, the hymn writer, the hymn writer, put it this way, but when we sing, redemption story, they will fold their wings, for angels, never knew the joy, that our salvation brings.

[54:20] Neither fallen, nor unfallen angels, understand, what God was actually doing, in Christ. And he goes on to say, none of the rulers, of this age, has understood, for if they had understood it, they would not have, crucified the Lord of glory.

[54:36] What does that mean? That means that Satan, was behind, was instigating, contributing to, conspiring with, Judas, and others, to bring about, the rejection of the Messiah.

[54:54] Kill him, and he tried to kill him, numerous times. Tried through Herod, killing all the male babies, under two years of age. I'll get him, but he escaped to Egypt.

[55:06] And he lost again. And then, he tried to kill him, when the people took up, stones to stone him. For good work, we stone thee not, but because thou being a man, madest thyself the son of God.

[55:20] That's blasphemy, and they were going to stone him. And he passed through their midst, and went out of the way. And, every turn, Satan was trying to destroy him. And, when, he was able, to bring about, instigate, contribute to, the crucifixion, he thought, ha, got him now.

[55:41] Got him now. But, three days later, he didn't. And, what Satan thought, was the final undoing, of the Messiah, became the basis, for his undoing.

[56:02] Just like, Haman, preparing the gallows, for Mordecai, and ends up, being hung, on those gallows himself. The mystery of the Messiah, is, through the actual, death, of Jesus Christ, which looked, to everybody, like, it was the end.

[56:25] It was God's, new beginning. Because, through that death, he accomplished, our redemption. And, Satan, is foiled, once again.

[56:37] God turned, the very evil, that he sought to do, against him, and made it to be, the very basis, of our salvation. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Marietta?

[56:49] We see, that Satan, is constantly, looking on, the will, that God has, vowed, for all the people, to destroy, God.

[57:04] Yeah. But, God is definitely, still in charge. He puts, a limit. He allows Satan, to have, this access, to our, you know, he always, limits.

[57:18] That's true. That's true. And, I don't understand, how that works. I, I, I, I, don't get me wrong. I don't think, I don't think, that we are dependent, on satanic influence, and input, in order to be ornery.

[57:34] we can manage that, we can manage that, on our own. But, there, there does seem, to be, incidents, or perhaps, people, who are more subject, to satanic, influence, than others.

[57:51] And, I would simply, suggest that, that satanic influence, coupled with, man's, fleshly nature, which is very, ego centered, makes them, an easy prey, for his influence.

[58:06] I think he really, influenced, Cain. I think he influenced, Cain. We aren't told that, and, and we know, we know that he, influenced, Judas.

[58:21] And, we are even told, that he entered, into him. He kind of, took some kind of, possession, of Judas. But, it seems, it seems that, that if one, has, a self centered, fleshly mindset, a worldly mindset, they are automatically, more vulnerable, to satanic, suggestion, and influence.

[58:46] And, he knows, whom to recruit, and how to recruit. And, he knows, who the most likely ones are, that he can use. And, and he, he uses them.

[58:57] He uses them. Other comments, or questions? Yes, John? In the Old Testament, when God, always told his people, to go in, and kill everybody, was that, because he was trying, to wipe out the satanic, or demonic?

[59:13] Well, these people were, no question, they were, they were Canaanites, and they were forbidden, they were forbidden to intermarry, with them, because, they will turn your heart, from me.

[59:27] And, of course, that is exactly, what happened, when they did. And, it may be, this is just, this is just, speculation, we can't help, but wonder about these things, but, but, some, some are of the opinion, that, what appears to have been, so, so cruel, and so brutal, on the part of God, to demand that, all these people, be wiped out.

[59:52] Men, women, children, all of them, in some cases, I think even animals, and some have theorized, that there may have been, biological plague, or epidemic, or something, that severely infected, these people, and that, this was the only way, of stopping it, or eliminating, we do know, that the plague, was not all that uncommon, in the Old Testament times, and it could be, that, something like that, was involved, God, God required people, to take a lot of actions, that he never, really, explained, he just told them, to do it, and do it, because I tell you to, and, many, many years later, we can understand that, for instance, when you, when you look, in the book of, of Leviticus, at some of the requirements, that God made, of the children, of Israel, when they were, in the wilderness, requirements, that he made, for them, hygienically, it's hard, to understand, what the rationale, for that, would have been, and, and, they were told, steps, deliberate steps, precise steps, to take, to make sure, that there wouldn't be, break, an outbreak, of disease, of cholera, or something like that, and, and, and, and, they were even told, how to treat, human waste, and what to do with it, and, you know, there, there are places, in Europe, that didn't practice, that kind of sanitation, during World War I, and yet, the children of Israel, were told that, and, and they were told, all kinds of things, regarding, the cleansing of vessels, and how to use, what they called, living water, which was running water, and you don't wash, these things in stagnant water, or in a pool, but in running water, because that's the only way, that you get rid of all, the bacteria, and everything, but they didn't, they didn't have any, microscopes, they didn't have any, laboratories, for examining that stuff, and I'm sure, some of these people, scratched their head, and said,

[62:00] I wonder what's wrong with that, and here's a perfectly good, here's a perfectly good, crock pot, and this woman could say, but it's my favorite, crock pot, and, and, and so, so, a mouse crawled up, in my crock pot, and died, and I found his little corpse, three days later, why can't I just, wash that out, and use it, and, and if she tried to do that, it would look clean, but she didn't have any way, of knowing, that, that mouse, and its, deadly toxins, or whatever, would penetrate, the clay, of that, crock pot, and would embed itself, in it, and then, it would come out, when she heats it, and it could poison you, you know, so, what does the law say, break it, throw it away, don't use it anymore, but why, I can clean it, and it'll be, you know, and we aren't told, the reason for it, and I'm sure that they scratched their head, a lot of things,

[63:07] I don't know why we have to do this, it looks perfectly good to me, whatever, God said, you break it, throw it away, do what you're told, it's for your own good, did you ever tell your kids that, they never did believe it, did they, but it was for their own good, any other thoughts, or comments, we're already five minutes over, yes, I don't know if you've ever seen, the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where they find, a so called, Cup of Christ, at the very end, part of that ending, is filmed, at the place called Petra, there's a massive stone temple, carved right into solid rock, I've never heard the association, with the flood by the dragon, but just thinking about that, those sheer cliffs, are 50 to 100 feet tall, carved smooth by what, seemed to be rushing water, sometime in the past, there's no way out, if there was a flood coming in there, anyone that would be in there, would be stuck in there, it would be disastrous, and the entrance, the entrance to Petra, and this is one of the reasons, why it was so heavily fortified, and protected, the entrance to Petra, is no wider, than what, one person, can get through, on a horse, at a time, one person at a time, this narrow entrance, into Petra, of course it all opens up, once you get inside, but you can see, how they could defend that, all you need is an archer, with a supply of arrows there, you just pick off, because you don't come through, one at a time, but think, if there's a rushing, torrent of water, come pouring through there, it would be a different thing, wouldn't it, yes Marvis,

[64:38]  I think it's very interesting too, that it's the very same thing, as the children of Israel, coming out of Egypt, the result is water, and where are we going to go, and, that has to make you really mad, because the second time, it didn't work, you know, man has always had a problem, with water, it's either not enough, or too much, or in the wrong place, well, for those of you, who've already, had your meal, feel free to linger, get more coffee, or whatever, and some of us, are going to have lunch, thank you for being here, thank you for being here, thank you for being here,