The Kingdom of Light Amidst the Kingdom of Darkness B

God is our King.

Some 47 seven God is the King of all the earth, some 7412 God is my King, some 45 six your throne of God is forever and ever. A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your some 1016 Lord is King forever and ever, that God created the world in six literal days and that Christ rose from the dead.

But did you ever think that anyone would be ridiculed for believing that only women can give birth and that there are only two genders and who knows what foundational truths will be turned upside down next. Thankfully, God is still in control of everything that happens in the day is coming when the world will believe the truth about God and confess his rightful authority and power today.

John MacArthur looks at the return of Christ and what the church is called to do while it awaits his coming. It's part of John's continuing study called the world versus the kingdom of God.

Now here's John with the lesson, we are now in an evil kingdom kingdom wherein is so evil that God's wrath is been unleashed within living in it for a number of decades now from the sexual revolution through the homosexual revolution to the reprobate mind where you can even think straight.

In reality and fantasy are mingled evil kingdom holds its power by one thing lives kingdom of darkness is a kingdom of lies. Satan is the liar King. He's a liar. King he has a massive supernatural force of demons against whom we wrestle his children are liars. The kingdom of darkness is known by its allies.

This is penetrated the most sacred halls of our government.

Supreme Court the United States Supreme Court struck down the Defense of marriage act to make way for homosexual behavior in marriage and actually declared in their filing that religious objections to homosexuality come from hate God is out. Prayer is out the 10 Commandments are out. Get those off the wall. The Bible is out. Blasphemy is in immorality is to be protected. In fact, laws are being are to be made and enforced to normalize perversion. This leads me to draw your attention to second Corinthians chapter 10 second Corinthians 10 three though we walk in the flesh. He doesn't mean send it humanity. There were human, we do not war according to the flesh we we can't fight this spiritual battle with any human strategies. The weapons of our warfare are not human but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses where we we got to realize that where were assaulting fortresses. That's the word for palaces and forts, prisons and tombs were assaulting massive stone edifices we have to destroy them and we don't expect to do that with human ingenuity and human strategy.

What are these fortresses, he says in the next verse where destroying log is moss, ideas, ideologies, philosophies, speculations we are destroying lies because they are defined further as every anti-God idea every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. We as a church in the world have the responsibility to assault the fortresses of lies. Why were here to smash down every idea raised up against the true knowledge of God and then on the positive. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. That's magnificent languages, and it we turn people from lies to the truth. That's why were here so do you understand what a threat we are. We exist in the world for one purpose. That is to expose the lies and to bring the truth and when lies dominate the kingdom at every point. And when they are basically the foundation of the society's laws.

We are not tolerable, but we are the kingdom, and the kingdom is here because the king is here, God is our King. Some 47 seven God is the King of all the earth, some 7412 God is my King, some 45 six your throne of God is forever and ever. A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. Some 1016 the Lord is King forever and ever. Jeremiah 1010 but the Lord is the true God.

He is the living God and the everlasting King. The nations cannot survive his indignation. Isaiah 3322 says the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King. He will save us is a king that doesn't need investigating, except for find the truth about him on the pages of Scripture. He is holy, holy, holy. In Deuteronomy chapter 10 when readjusted portion of that chapter starting that may be adverse 12 now Israel. What is the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God or to fear Yahweh your God walk in all his ways and love him and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul and to keep Yahweh's commandments and his statutes which I am commanding you today for your good behold to Yahweh your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it yet on your fathers did Yahweh set his affection to love them and he chose their descendents after them even you above all peoples, as it is this day so circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer, or Yahweh your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty and the awesome God who does not show partiality. Unlike politicians and doesn't take a bribe so wooden democracy fix all this. No, no. When God created man to follow this when God created man in a functioning democracy we had that Adam was created me to be a king, and God's ultimate plan is for a king to reign forever. Right when men selling when Adam fell, his crown was taken away and Satan became king.

We now live according to acts 26 in the dome minion of Satan.

But God promised that there would come a greater king who would crush Satan's head, but until he came.

And even after he came all human history is the story of the usurper. The evil king Satan ruling the world through other evil kings until the coming of the King of righteousness even the best of kings is evil. They're all fakes and frauds in some sense there are all part of the kingdom of darkness because the system is in the darkness were grateful when there are rulers that are Christians. But the reality is that Satan rules the world. The whole world lies in his power, such as a series of evil kingdoms.

They can be influenced by Christianity, but eventually they fall into evil as we've seen there all all these kings are previews of antichrist. All of them and John says even now there are many antichrist as an illustration of this two illustrations of this.

The first one comes in the book of Daniel in chapter 2 verse will… Verse 37 this is the dream that the pagan king has Nebuchadnezzar had these dreams you okay are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven is given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory really.

He was dreaming that about himself. That's a problem, but chapter 4 the spending seven years out in the field like a beast until he learns that the true God reigns you may think you reign as some king but only God reigns the New Testament counterpart to that is in the 12th chapter of acts. One of the most serious warnings to evil rulers is the account of Herod was impressed with himself as Nebuchadnezzar was in so in verse 20 of acts 12.

We are introduced to this event on appointed a verse 21 Herod put on his royal apparel took his seat on the rostrum or the judgment seat and began delivering an address to the people. The people kept crying out the voice of God and not of a man and immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he didn't give God the glory was eaten by worms and died in order love about this the next verse, but the word of God continue to grow to be multiplied. The King will die. The word will live no matter what the king does, he will die.

The word will live.

When we come to the New Testament, we come to the introduction of the perfect king, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let me sum it up, the way Mark sums it up in March. Everyone verse 15 Jesus came. Verse 14 into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God and saying this is so important that time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come. The kingdom has come, the invisible kingdom the spiritual kingdom repent and believe in the gospel so you get out of the kingdom of darkness that will be destroyed and is being destroyed into the kingdom of light. What what do you do to be delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear son, you must be regenerate. That's a work from heaven. You must repent that the work of the spirit does the convicted of sin and righteousness and judgment. You must recognize your spiritual bankruptcy in poverty and there is no righteousness, which can at all satisfy God's requirement for a kingdom citizen, you must understand that you are utterly dependent. You have nothing to offer God, you come like a child with no accomplishments but summing it all up as Mark does. After believe the gospel. After believe the gospel kingdom is here.

The king is here. He lives in his people. Christ in you the hope of glory. But the day is coming when he will come to establish his kingdom on earth. Listen to Revelation 1115 seventh angel sounded, there were voices loud voices in heaven, saying, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ operator right now the kingdom of the world is not his right through by wicked kings. It's under the rule of Satan. The day is coming when the kingdom of the world, not just the invisible kingdom, but the visible kingdom the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever.

In verse 18 says the wrath when he comes in he will destroy those who rejected him in the 19th chapter of Revelation. Verse 11.

The scene is even more dramatic.

I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse and he was out on it is called faithful and what true, and in righteousness he judges and wages war.

His eyes are a flame of fire on his head are many diadem sin is a name written on him which no one knows except himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood in his name is called the word of God and the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with that he may strike down the nations will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty and on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, say it with me King of Kings and Lord of lords, and every eye will see him, will they not, but now the king is invisible true King Siri losing his people is in you and me now. Not everybody who claims to be in the kingdom is in the kingdom. I hear very wicked people say their religious their spiritual to go to a certain church listen to the words of our Lord in Matthew seven.

Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven really. Not everyone who makes laws that blaspheme God should expect to be going to heaven. Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to me on the day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, your name cast out demons your name perform many miracles. That's very religious, held 1/3 of them. I never knew you depart for me. Why did he not know them because they were practicing what yes the character of their lives. That is the acid test of whether they are kingdom citizens are not. We know the kingdom is mixed. Matthew 13 says the wheat and tares go together on the Angels can separate. So how do we respond if you're a non-Christian, let me say this to you repent and believe in the gospel.

The king is here.

The kingdom is here or Matthew 6:05 33 if you will seek his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to what things the things that you will ever need in time and eternity. What is the reward of coming into the kingdom. Well, the truth will make you free. Luke 2229, 30 and just as my father granted me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at my table in the kingdom you get to be at that head table in the eternal kingdom sit forever with Christ. Oh, not just at the table. Revelation 321 and sit down with me on my throne, as I said on my father's throne. So if you are non-Christian kingdoms. Here the king is here repent and believe the gospel. What about a Christian well take a cue from the apostle Paul, the apostle Paul in his calling from God showed us essentially what we all should be doing. He says to King Agrippa giving his testimony next 26 I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision the Lord gave me a vision a call and I was obedient. So what was that obedience, I kept declaring both of those of Damascus first and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea and even to the Gentiles from where I started and Damascus to the to the whole Gentile world. II declared the message and what was the message that they should repent and turn to God, so you your believer what your responsibility the same thing go into all the world and preach the gospel is one other thing I want you to do and I want to show it to you from 1st to 2nd Timothy first Timothy chapter 2.

This is very straightforward. Now, first of all, then priority. I urge that entreaties and prayers dishes and Thanksgiving be made on behalf of all men ready for this for Kings and for all who are in authority.

So what are you supposed be doing for the evil king and the evil empire nosy village and what's your responsibility proclaim the truth and do what, pray what are you praying for your praying for their salvation.

Verse four God is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior to do that because God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of what the truth so we have to proclaim the truth we can head. We can't compromise we can't hide it. We can't soften it. We proclaim the truth and we pray for the salvation of those in leadership from the president on down. Second Timothy 226 I'm sorry 22 to 26 flee youthful lusts pursue righteousness with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Be a part of the family of God.

The fellowship of those who are calling on the Lord from a pure heart refused foolish and ignorant speculation. Don't get caught up in stupid arguments like evangelicalism is right now refused foolish and ignorant speculation that they just produce quarrels. Lord slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach patient when wronged with generalist correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.

They may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

So there we are again were going after people who were caught in the snare of the devil that requires obedience to the commission prayer and the truth because were leading them to the truth or bringing every thought captive to Christ spray.

Think of the words of Isaac Watts who wrote the hymn that touches on this text in Revelation. Now to the Lord that makes us know the wonders of his dying love. Be humble.

Honors paid below, and strains of nobler praise above was he that cleansed our foulest sins and washed us in his richest blood to see that makes us priests and kings and brings us rebels near to God, Jesus, our atoning priests to Jesus are superior king, the everlasting power confessed, and every tongue his glory sewn behold on flying clouds. He comes in every eye shall see him move though with our sins we pierced him once then he displaces pardoning love the unbelieving world.

Sure whale will we rejoice to see the day come, Lord Jesus, nor let that promise fail nor let thy chariots long delay. Even so, Lord Jesus, and men.

This is grace to you with John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church, Chancellor of the Masters University and seminary and John's current series is brand-new East titled it the world versus the kingdom of God. John, as you said today when we look toward the future.

There is reason for encouragement the world may be accelerating away from God and embracing immorality at a faster and faster pace. But God's purposes are being accomplished and his purposes, and plans cannot be thwarted right well that's what it says in Isaiah 46 nine intend that the Lord purposes. What he wills, and nothing can change that God is absolutely sovereign and I think what's so important about that is that it is not vague when you think about God's sovereignty and I'll give you the classic and greatest illustration you have all these plans that God laid out in the Old Testament, and you might say, well do. Should we believe them or not believe them. But when you come to the New Testament, you realize that they were all fulfilled and that's that's the end of any question or any doubt Christ comes and fulfills all the hundreds of prophecies are fulfilled by Christ in his first coming so we look at all the second coming promises and prophecies and would have to assume the same thing because purposes will be fulfilled in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and we see a lot of things happening in the world that lineup for the patterns that were going to see. Prior to his return. So we are getting previews of coming attractions name of the second coming out, looking at the second coming is really important. The end of the story matters. I will tell you if you haven't got a copy of the book I wrote called the second coming. You need to get a copy of it. You need to know what's going to happen. Everybody's interested in the future.

This is the truth about the future is not speculative, and not looking at headlines in the Internet and political leaders in conspiracy theories, but rather looking at the specific things the Lord predicts related to his coming is imminent. What about the coming rapture. What about the great tribulation.

What about signs in the sky. Does anybody know what time it is eschatological. He what about millennial, premillennial pre-tribulation will views what should we believe. What does the future hold it's all in the book the second coming, reasonably priced, is always from Grace to you.

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Just go to GT Y.org now for John MacArthur in the entire Greece to use staff on Phil Johnson. Thanks for making this broadcast part of your day and be here tomorrow when John looks at how you can help your church make a real difference in this chaotic upside down world to another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on Fridays wasting