Understanding Spiritual Warfare and Trusting God's Word
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor interpreting biblical passages, emphasizing the spiritual warfare between Satan, symbolized by the dragon, and the church, represented by the woman. The pastor underscores the importance of understanding these biblical references and their implications for the future. The sermon then shifts to discuss the concept of the harvest as described in Revelation and Matthew. This harvest signifies the end of the age and the gathering of those who cause sin and are guilty of lawlessness. The pastor highlights the severe consequences for these individuals, while the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom.
The sermon further discusses the introduction of seven characters in the book of Revelation who play a significant role in the unfolding drama. The first character mentioned is the dragon, identified as Satan. The pastor emphasizes that the dragon is defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of testimony, leading to the power and kingdom of God and the authority of Christ. The pastor concludes by warning that the devil, now thrown down to earth, will bring great fury upon the earth and the sea for a limited time before his ultimate defeat.
The pastor then delves into the prophecy of the Antichrist, as described in Revelation chapter 13. He explains that the Antichrist, a beast from the sea, will imitate Jesus by almost dying and being raised from the dead. The Antichrist will exercise authority for 42 months, equivalent to three and a half years, and will be aided by a false prophet, a beast from the earth, who will control the world's economic system. The pastor further elaborates on the prophecy of the Antichrist, explaining that he will make a seven-year covenant that he will break halfway through. The world may not recognize the Antichrist until three and a half years after the treaty is signed due to his intelligence and persuasive nature.
The sermon then transitions to the topic of the tribulation, a seven-year period that ends with the return of Jesus. The pastor emphasizes that God wants us to know about this time period, which is why He wrote an entire book about it, the book of Revelation. The pastor mentions that John, who had a close relationship with Jesus, sees Jesus as the alpha and omega in the throne room of heaven in Revelation chapter one. The pastor discusses the significance of Ezekiel's war as the last major prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the tribulation begins. He highlights the current events in Iran and Turkey, emphasizing that when this war breaks out, it signifies the beginning of the tribulation timeline.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of trusting in God and studying His Word. The pastor encourages the congregation to have faith in God, even if they don't understand every word in the Bible. They are urged to study the Scriptures to truly know who God is and to allow Jesus to work in their lives. The pastor reminds the listeners that God is with them and that they can trust Him with everything. They are encouraged to lean on God rather than their own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all their ways.
Key Takeaways:
- The spiritual warfare between Satan and the church is a reminder of the importance of standing firm in faith. The church represents the presence of God on earth, and Satan wages war against it. [12:45]
- The harvest described in Revelation and Matthew signifies the end of the age and the gathering of those who cause sin and are guilty of lawlessness. This emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life and the severe consequences of sin. [24:30]
- The dragon, identified as Satan, is defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of testimony. This highlights the power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of sharing our testimonies. [36:10]
- The prophecy of the Antichrist, as described in Revelation chapter 13, is a significant event in the end times. The Antichrist will imitate Jesus, exercise authority for 42 months, and will be aided by a false prophet who will control the world's economic system. [48:20]
- The importance of trusting in God and studying His Word is emphasized. Believers are encouraged to lean on God rather than their own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all their ways. This is a reminder of the importance of personal study and reliance on God in all aspects of life. [59:15]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ezekiel 38:14-16: "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes."
2. Daniel 9:27: "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
3. Matthew 24:15-16: "So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the location from where Gog and his army will come in Ezekiel 38:14-16?
2. In Daniel 9:27, what does the 'seven' represent and what happens in the middle of it?
3. What is the 'abomination that causes desolation' mentioned in Matthew 24:15-16?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the prophecy in Ezekiel 38:14-16 relate to the current events in Iran and Turkey?
2. How does the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27 connect to the prophecy of the Antichrist?
3. How does the 'abomination that causes desolation' in Matthew 24:15-16 relate to the end times and the tribulation period?
Application Questions:
1. Considering the prophecy in Ezekiel, how can you prepare yourself spiritually for the potential tribulation period?
2. Given the prophecy of the Antichrist in Daniel 9:27, how can you discern truth from deception in your daily life?
3. Reflecting on Matthew 24:15-16, how can you apply the urgency of fleeing from sin in your personal life?
4. In light of the spiritual warfare between Satan and the church, how can you stand firm in your faith this week?
5. How can you use your understanding of the end times to encourage others in their faith journey?
Devotional
Day 1: The Battle Between Faith and Temptation
The spiritual warfare between Satan and the church is a constant reminder of the importance of standing firm in faith. As the church represents the presence of God on earth, Satan wages war against it, seeking to lead believers astray. This battle is not just a biblical narrative, but a reality that believers face daily. [12:45]
Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: How can you stand firm in your faith today when faced with temptations or challenges that seek to lead you astray?
Day 2: The Harvest of Righteousness and Consequences of Sin
The harvest described in Revelation and Matthew signifies the end of the age and the gathering of those who cause sin and are guilty of lawlessness. This serves as a reminder of the importance of living a righteous life and the severe consequences of sin. [24:30]
Bible Passage: Galatians 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."
Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to sow seeds of righteousness in your life and in the lives of those around you?
Day 3: The Power of Testimony and Sacrifice
The dragon, identified as Satan, is defeated by the blood of the lamb and the word of testimony. This highlights the power of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of sharing our testimonies. [36:10]
Bible Passage: Revelation 12:11 - "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Reflection: How can you share your testimony today to encourage others and defeat the enemy's lies?
Day 4: The Deception of the Antichrist
The prophecy of the Antichrist, as described in Revelation chapter 13, is a significant event in the end times. The Antichrist will imitate Jesus, exercise authority for 42 months, and will be aided by a false prophet who will control the world's economic system. [48:20]
Bible Passage: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing."
Reflection: How can you discern truth from deception in your life today, and what steps can you take to guard against being led astray?
Day 5: Trusting in God and Studying His Word
The importance of trusting in God and studying His Word is emphasized. Believers are encouraged to lean on God rather than their own understanding and to acknowledge Him in all their ways. [59:15]
Bible Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to trust God more deeply and to study His Word more diligently?
Quotes
1. "The presence of God on this earth is the church. Well, I thought the presence of God was the Holy Spirit. It is. The Holy Spirit dwells inside each and every believer, and because of that, we represent the presence of God on this earth."
2. "The Bible says in Revelation chapter 13, verse 5, says that it was allowed to exercise authority for 42 months. Anybody want to take a wild guess as to how long 42 months is? Three and a half years."
3. "During the final three and a half years, the beast who is also called the false prophet will be Jewish, most likely the Muslim Jesus prophesied in their scriptures, who will come and deceive many people, convincing them to follow a false messiah who is the antichrist."
4. "The harvest of the righteous will bring rejoicing all over heaven because the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. God will have his kids with him, his children, and he will be happy, we will be happy."
5. "This is a harvest that you do not want to be a part of. In fact, Matthew chapter 13, Jesus spoke about the great harvest at the end of the age...they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and those guilty of lawlessness."
6. "The Bible says that one day soon we're going to go through or there's going to be a seven year period called the Tribulation."
7. "They conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of his testimony."
8. "The Antichrist will make a seven-year covenant that he is going to break halfway through at the three and a half-year point."
9. "The world may not recognize the Antichrist until three and a half years after the treaty is signed because he will be smart and persuasive, appearing benevolent."
10. "Ezekiel's war is likely the last major prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before the tribulation begins. When that war breaks out, pack your bags."
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Oct 23, 2023. Do you have any questions about it?