The Time is Short

Every Bible turn with me if you would to Revelation chapter 12 will be looking at verses 12 to 17 therefore rejoice, O heavens and you dwell in them, but woe to you, oh earth and see for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short when the Dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

The woman was given the two wings of the great Eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, time and 1/2 time serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman just sweep her away with the flood, but the earth came to the help of the woman.

The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river at the Dragon.

It poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring of those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus and he stood on the sand of the sea spray all heavenly father we come before your throne today to praise you and thank you for the privilege of worship. We ask heavenly father that your presence here would just reach down into our heart, Lord, and do a work of grace within us today. Heavenly fathers were looking at a very difficult passage today about that which took place after you were crucified about the war that went on in heaven about Satan and his his work here on earth. His desire Lord to hinder the work of the church's desire Lord to bring harm and and great suffering to your people. We pray heavenly father that you would encourage us today that you would help us to see that our God is much greater than our enemy help us to understand Lord that are trusted our dependence needs to be in the power of the Holy Spirit and the heavenly father hit me. We learn how to take up the sword of the Spirit the word of God and do battle against our enemy God, and directors through this passage today. May Jesus be uplifted in it by this congregation beatified. We carefully give you praise and honor and glory for what you do for us in Jesus precious and holy name. It would pray, amen. You may be seated. I want to take a moment to go back to last week's passage because you can understand this week's passage without it. I shared with you last week that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the turning point in history that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ changed everything and it changed everything for us.

Your back during the Old Testament times the animal for sacrifice in the animal's blood was shed.

It was a picture, a type of symbol of what Jesus would come and do for us on the cross, but the animal blood could only cover overseeing it could not wash it away for it did not have the power to do so. But when Jesus Christ came to this earth, and he died on the cross he lived a perfect sinless life and his blood was perfect holy, sinless, it was untainted it was uncorrupted blood and so when Jesus shed his blood for us. It did not just cover over RCN but it washes away completely and eternally. When Jesus died on the cross he died as a propitiation for us. His death appeased the wrath of God. He died as a redemption act is his blood did what it it's it purchased us out of the slave market of sin. It was also reconciling act, his blood caused us sinful people to be reconciled to a holy God's blood also was a even more than that. It was a perfect substitutionary atonement and it was a substitute for us. Jesus died in our place. He took RCN he gave us his righteousness and he died to suffer. Our hail for us. So the blood of Jesus Christ washed away our sins and removed RCN from us as far as the east is from the west.

That's what the crucifixion did for us, but that's not all the crucifixion accomplished. Another thing that this crucifixion accomplished was the S.

It sealed the doom of Satan all the way through history up to the time of the cross, Satan had access to go into the very presence of Almighty God. And when he did he would go as the accuser of the brethren he would go accusing us of sin. You remember from the book of Job and how this we see it so plainly there Job went, Satan went into the very presence of God and accused Job I and mocked him, and said he's not truly a man of God.

He said the only reason told God the only reason that that Job acts like he loves you is because he wants to use you look at the things you've given him. You've given him a beautiful family you given him finances and prosperity you given him good hail, but you pull down the hedge and let me get to doing and he will curse you to your face.

Satan had access to do that all the way through history until the time of the crucifixion and resurrection.

But when the crucifixion took place. The Scripture tells us there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels waged war against Satan and his angels and Satan and his angels were cast down to the earth, and he lost his access to heaven. Up to that point in time. Satan believe that he had hope he believed that he had hope after the cross and resurrection. That hope was gone last week, I shared with you a little statement that Richard Phillips made an he quotes Doug Kelly I wanted to read that again because it's really important in understanding or dealing with today. He said what is it mean for Satan to be thrown down out of heaven. Revelation 1210 answers that the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Christ is silent Satan's attempt to accuse Christians before God. Douglas Kelly writes, when Jesus completed his redemptive work for sinners and took his place on God's throne site no longer could come before God to criticize the saints. Rather, Jesus is now they are, where Satan at one time could walk in and out before God, he is there is our advocate rather than Satan as our accuser so we ended their message last week with my favorite one of my favorite verses may be my favorite verse in Revelation Revelation chapter 12 verse 11 says and they overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony by the fact that they loved not their lives unto the death. First of all, they overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb by the blood of the Lamb and John first John chapter 1 verse seven, John says if we walk in the light as he is, and the like. We have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin. When Martin Luther was was translating the Bible into German. He was working hard and is he was working. He said that he would have these visions in his mind of Satan coming to him. With this long flowing list of all the sins that he had committed and he would.

Satan would take that that list and he would they would just push it into his face in my TM and his desire to serve God, will you probably remember that that incident where we are.

Martin Luther was so mad that he jumped up and he said yes.

You're exactly right. I have committed those sins I'm guilty of the sins of those sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ first John chapter 1 verse seven says if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin and then do you remember from that incident.

What Martin Luther did. He reached over and he grabbed his ink whale and he threw it at the devil. It bounced across the wall and splattered the wall. Now think it was probably a wise move for him to fight the devil with the word of God, whether or not it was a great thing to throw a quail, let them I'm not sure if you go to Germany day go into that place.

You will see you still see that ink splat on the wall. Charles Wesley got it right in his great him and can it be when he said this no condemnation now Andrea Jesus and all in him is mine alive and here my living head enclosed in righteousness, divine bold approach. The eternal throne and claim the crown to Christ my own amazing love how can it be that they help my God should die for me. Number one Jesus or we overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb number two we overcome Satan by the word of our testimony books Christianity is experiential and the question you need to ask yourself is this had you been to the cross. Has Jesus changed your life hasn't changed your heart. As he reached in your interview you and take it out. That part of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh.

Are you a new creation were old things are passed away in all things have become new. That's a personal testimony that overcome Satan and then lastly they overcame Satan by the fact that they loved not their lives unto the death.

If you're at the point where you love Jesus so much that you're willing to die forming than what more can Satan throw at you got three points do I want to share with you as we get into the higher our passage today and the first one is this Satan's panic Satan's panic.

Look at verses 12 through 13.

Again, therefore, rejoice O heavens and you dwell in them. But while you are worth and see the devil is come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short and when the Dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. When Satan lost his battle against Michael and his angels. Two things happen number one there was rejoicing in heaven. No longer could Satan come before God. No longer could Satan be the accuser of the brethren in God's presence. He could not do that.

Why, because now there was an advocate, an advocate that was sitting there right beside on the right hand of God on his throne and who was that advocate that advocate was Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ would not allow Satan to come before his father and accuse the brethren he would not allow him to approach the throne he would not allow him to come into his physical presence and so there was this great rejoicing in heaven. But then, secondly second thing that happened was at the church on earth would suffer as Satan in absolute rage would turn up the heat of persecution. The Scripture says that Satan knows that his time is short until the resurrection arrogant Lucifer had an idea that he could somehow overcome and undermine the Lord God Almighty, that somehow he was going to become the sovereign deity the cross and the resurrection very quickly brought that idea to a screeching halt.

So his reaction was like a spoiled child a spoiled child who didn't get his way and any not only was angered he was infuriated and he brought great vengeance against the church and continues to do so today. Richard Phillips explained it whale. He said Satan seeks to harm believers in time because he cannot touch eternity P6 to forward our earthly suit solicitude because he cannot for Christ's saving of our souls. Satan is livid about his defeat and he hates nothing more than believers in Christ, who obey God's word and witness to the gospel. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring. All those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Isn't it interesting how this unbelievably wise and unbelievably powerful being who was one time, the Archangel of God, how we could completely destroy himself through pride in Isaiah 14 he said, I will exalt myself above the stars of heaven and the stars are angels.

He said I will be greater than all the angels and then he said I will become like the most high God boats.

Lucifer was a created being of God. God created Lucifer. He spoke him into existence.

No one created God. God has no beginning. He's always been and he always will be. Our God is all-powerful, no one can stay his hand.

No one can stop him. No one can stand against him and win. No one can manipulate God. God is the creator God is the sovereign ruler.

No one can stand against them, and yet here is Lucifer saying I will be like the most high God.

But Lucifer is nothing in comparison to God. But this we need to remember. He is powerful compared to us. We are never told to fight Satan in our own strength. We are told instead to put on the whole armor of God, that we might state and against the wiles of the devil and to take up the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. If we overcome Satan.

It will be for God's protection through God's power through God's promise, and through God's word when the crucifixion took place. Satan understood that he lost the battle and he went after the church with absolute vengeance.

Now why would he not admit defeat. Why would he not admit defeat and just beg God for mercy. Why would Satan continue to pile up these offenses against God that he knows he's going to have to pay for. For all of eternity. Here's the answer and I can't give you chapter and verse and I'm not getting this from the Westminster confession of faith and I'm not getting this from birth. Systematic theology.

I'm getting it from Eugene old and this is what Eugene Oldham said sin makes a stupid sin makes us stupid is that not true. How many pastors are out of the ministry right now and have destroyed lives and a broken hearts because they were convinced that extramarital affair was to make them happy. Sin makes you stupid.

How many college students are hooked on drugs and are wasting their use in and draining their health and and draining their finances because they thought that a temporary little buzzes will be worth it.

Sin makes a stupid sin did to Satan. What sin did to Hitler member a few weeks ago I was sharing with you that the World War II was essentially one at D-Day in Normandy, France, and the at that point in time Germany could not win the war. They just could not win it. And so the generals of of Hitler. Many of them came to him and begged him to go ahead and surrender. I said if you surrender now then then our enemy may have mercy on us, and you can save many lives of German people. You need to surrender now and Hitler would not do it. In fact, he did the exact opposite. He just poured all of his hatred out and continue to do things like the, the V2 rocket campaign where he just sent rockets into London, England and killed countless innocent people. And pretty much destroy that city do such a thing. Why would he do that. I think Revelation 1212 tells us what do you owe earth and see for the devil is come down to you in a great wrath, because he knows that his time is short. A level Richard Phillips said here. Listen carefully.

The point is that Satan persecutes the church here on earth. Not because he thinks he can take away our salvation, but because he knows that he cannot. The devil is written, driven by pure malice in the face of certain defeat, however disturbing it is to contemplate his malice is futility is still encouraging to suffering Christians when friends are governments unrighteously turn against us with false accusations hurt us or when we are treated unfairly because of our faith to Christ blood in the word of our testimony, we have the victory above and for this reason, we suffer Satan's attack here on earth. Persecution for Christ's sake that shows that we belong to the Savior who the world crucified so long ago, but who is already conquered ours should be the attitude shown by Peter and John when they were beaten for preaching the gospel. They laughed, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor fruit for his name Satan's attacks against our buildings, our budgets and our bodies show only that he can do nothing about our blessing to Christ in Christ. The fact that we now belong in the eternal glory of heaven. Satan's time to persecute us a short is even he knows. But our eternal rejoicing in heaven with Christ will last forever. The title for my message today was the time is short and this week I could just imagine people riding up and Down Stallings Rd. in Rocky River Road and see in the sign. The time is short and looking at the Scripture that says Revelation and I can imagine them saying all I see was that preachers doing AAs trying to convince all his congregation that Jesus is coming very very soon and and he is trying to make them think that he knows the day than he knows the how or when it's going to happen in and he's trying to to to put all that together and maybe still ask his church stuff to give all their money and then go up on the mountain and wait for Jesus to come back will retain that's not what doing. I believe that Jesus may very well come back soon, and if so, then praise God for that I would be glad to see that happen with this idea that the time is short is given to us that we might understand that our time on this earth is a very short time that the church age compared to eternity is a very short time, and that Satan's time on this earth to persecute us is a very short time. This is a testing time for us as Christians. It is a time for us to grow in holiness. To glorify Christ to our lives to magnify Christ through trial, tribulation, persecution and suffering. Our time is short, but brothers and sisters eternity is forever point to God's protection. Look at verse 14 to 16, but the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness to place where she is to be nourished for a time, time and 1/2 time the serpent poured water like a river out of the mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood, but the earth came to the help of the woman and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. As we said before, if you want understand the book of Revelation, then you better spend a lot of time in the Old Testament because in the book of Revelation there are over 500 references to the Old Testament in here when he's telling us teaching us about how God protects us. He uses an Old Testament reference that I have always loved one of my favorite Old Testament references because all the way back to Deuteronomy chapter 32 and he tells us that God's protection over us is like the protection of a mother eagle over baby listen to what he says in Deuteronomy 32 verses nine through 13 but the Lord's portion is his people. Jacob is allotted heritage. He found him in a desert land in a howling waste of the wilderness. He encircled him, he cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye like an eagle that stirs up its nails that flutters over its young spreading at his wings, catching them bearing them on his opinions.

The Lord alone, guided him no foreign God was withing the mating ride on the high places of the land and he ate the produce of the field and he suckled him with honey out of the rock and all out of the flinty rock. How does the Lord protect us his people like a mother eagle protects her little baby has a mother eagle do that.

Will she flies up to the top of the highest mountain, she can find.

She goes to the tallest tree she can find. She builds a nest she takes sticks and twigs and and Ballston and she goes up put that altogether gets it all fixed. She goes and kills a couple rabbits and sheets to the meat and then she takes the, the, the, for the further rabbit and she puts it inside the balloon. They asked and answered. She got it just perfectly lined with that with that warm fur of the little rabbit and then she lays the egg and then finally the egg hatches and there's a little baby and so what is she do she every every few hours.

She goes out she she kills a little squirrel a rabbit. She brings back boots of the baby and she does that just hour after hour, day after day and and she's just just helping the little guy every time he gets cold. He just converts down in the nested he's loving it. Tell you he's at a point where he's living the dream.

I mean he's just enjoying life. This is just great. He's a happy camper and everything's going good until, all of a sudden, one day mama do some strain she reaches over with her beak and she grabs him and she pulls them out of the nest and she puts them on the limb he's holding on for dear life. And so she goes over the nest. She starts taking sticks out of the nest and the nest starts falling apart, and though the rabbit purchased begins to flutter to the ground and in the little guys over here. He's holding all knees looking at her mama what you do when you're destroying my home. He's always looked at Mama's provider. Now she's become a disturbing presence in his life. She says sits on is time for you to grow up. She reaches over. She grabs him with the beacon. She flips him onto his back. Her back and she says the hold on tight and so she takes off she goes up and up and up at about a mile over the mountain and she flies around and around and until all of a sudden, she slams on breaks and he falls off he starts flowing south, falling to the ground just tumbling head over heels in.

It looks like certain death for the little guy and right before he splats she comes flying up and remove those big outstretched wings. He catches he his heart is up in his throat. These mama what you doing I just about died.

What are you doing to me why you done that, she says, next time flip your wings and so he/she goes up again and she's gets to that same spot she starts going around and she drops them again and this time he sticks his wings out and starts to glide a little bit and then he starts falling again. She flies up and catches them. She says this time. Flap your wings don't just to come out and so they go up the same place she drops him again and this time he starts flapping his wings a little bit and he starts flying a flies a little bit and he gets tired he starts tumbling and she catches him again.

She goes up the same spot she dropped him again and again and again until finally he's got it in man she's flying in there flying the end there.

Flying side-by-side, and they fly over mountains that is never seen before in rivers and lakes and valleys and EC sites like he never begin to imagine. And all of a sudden he realizes this is what mama was doing.

This is why she did that because I'm an eagle and Eagles were made to fly brothers and sisters in Christ.

You are an eagle and God made you to fly how you can apply in this world that we live in in in this culture that is so is so horrible today that we are leaving the how can you, how can you live, how can you go forward you go forward by experience in the tribulation experiencing the persecution and using that to glorify God books God's people learn how to fly as we go through tribulation and trial and persecution. Once again we see this time. A time time at halftime.

That's 3 1/2 years 42 months, 1260 days.

We sing that over and over again what is that mean were not to take that literally. But every time you see that time.

In the Bible. It is a time period that deals with time of struggle and time of great, great trial he's telling us that while were in that time of trial. Not only will God protect us. Not only will he keep us safe.

Although he may let us be martyred were still with Amy's always never to leave us. And although that's going on his promise also to nourish us during that time. Now Satan still rages. Look at verse 15 verse 15 says that the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood in Revelation chapter 1 verse 16 Jesus is described this way. He is described as the one who has a two edge sword in his mouth.

That is a picture of the word of God. When Jesus Christ speaks it is the word of God and is the word of God that is life-giving in the word of God, that is God exalting river came out of Satan's mouth the river out of Satan's mouth is the exact opposite of the sword of Jesus mile the river represents deception and deceptive lies that flood our hearts with death. Look at the Lord's protection over its in verse 16 but the earth came to the help of the woman in the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

This alludes to the story in Numbers chapter 16 when Cora and Nathan were rebelling against Moses and Aaron courting days and wanted to the office of the high priest himself and so what happened God open the earth up under their feet. The Scripture says that they went alive into hail and God close the earth back over them is to remind us that no matter how bad things look God's promise to safeguard his church and the gates of hail will not prevail against it. I think John was probably thinking here of the words of David and send Psalm 32/67. We should therefore let everyone who is godly, offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found. Surely, in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me.

You preserve me from trouble you surround me with shouts of deliverance .3 is his promised persecution for 17 then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring of those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus and he stood on the sand of the sea. Philippians 129 says what is given to you on the behalf of Christ not only to believe upon him, but also to suffer for his sake.

Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 12 all the live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. First Peter chapter 2 verse 1213 says, beloved.

Think it not strange.

When these fiery trials come upon you as if some strange things happen to you, but rejoice that you were counted worthy to suffer for Christ sake. Revelation chapter 2 verse 10 and be faithful in the death and I will give you the crown of life. Martin Lloyd Jones from the most powerful and Christ exalting preachers of last century and we had Joseph Tonn here in our church several years ago. He stayed home and got a chance to converse with him. Talk withing any who is a Joseph Tom was a Romanian pastor still is, and he was under communism and the communist soldiers came into his house and they beating inept cracking his skull almost killed in this going through a tough time but Joseph Tonn told me that his first encounter with Martin Lloyd Jones and he said that somebody in his in some missionary gave him money to go to England to go to London we could go to a two week Bible conference. It was led Martin Lloyd Jones. He said he was all excited about it. Finally got there and when he got there the whole conference was filled up.

There was no room left suet to associate pastor and he told the associate pastor's dilemma, associate pastor took him to Martin Lloyd Jones and they sat down together and Martin Lloyd Jones said Joseph tell me your story.

Joseph begin to tell them about preaching the gospel in Romania about the, the, the soldiers that came to his house and how they had beat name shouting the scars on his head where his skull had been cracked shouting the scars on his back and Martin Lloyd Jones said what you say to them. Joseph and his Joseph said to them I said your weapon is killing my weapon is dying and I will gladly die for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then Joseph shared withing that the squadron leader that had ordered the beatings of him for so several days got on his knees withing in his own home and trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior Martin Lloyd Jones was to put it mildly just ecstatic about what you just heard and he said to Joseph I want you to come to this conference is my guest. You will not need to pay for anything all your meals are free and he said I praise God for what he's doing to your life and how it is used easily. Persecution last Sunday night preaching to first John and we are in first John chapter 2 verse 19 and I shared with you in that passage of the Martin Lloyd Jones commentary and it really fits with how want to close this today Martin Lloyd Jones said this.

The great thing that is emphasized here is the purity of picture of the church and not her size.

I wonder whether were prepared to face the fact that the church of God. In this age and generation may, in a sense have to go back to the catacombs. We may have to face that there are people who are facing that and it is the position in many countries today.

The church is in the home of so-and-so as it was in the New Testament, and we must realize that the church is quite as much. The church, if she is a handful of people as if she is a great crowd. The thing that matters in the church is not numbers, not organization. It is the purity of the doctrine better.

A handful of people who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the crowd who were uncertain as to whether he is or not and who falsely use the word Christian. These people, says John have gone out from you in a sense that he goes on to say that does not matter. The question is are you who remain all right the purity of doctrine is paramount. Jesus is the Christ brothers and sisters, Martin Lloyd Jones was right. Jesus Christ is Lord Jesus is the Christ. And when persecution comes Jesus is worth the time is short. What time our time on earth. This is temporary, but eternity is forever spray only.

Father, we thank you in just praise you Lord for the opportunity to read your word into realize enemy that we have against us as one who hates us desperately. Who wants to bring us to an end.

We thank you Lord that he is already defeated. We thank you Lord that you promised never to leave us nor forsake us. We thank you Lord that even if persecution does come in when it does come that you will give us everything that we need to bring you honor and glory.

I pray heavenly father that you would help us to realize what the true church is that were not just about organization that were not just about getting together for fellowship at the church is been made in order that we might praise and worship our great God and that Lord we might exalt your precious name forever and ever and ever helpless Lord God us and directed us in and how we live and what we do and how we think that our lives might bring you honor and and father that our words might bring you glory and it's in Jesus precious, holy name we pray. Amen