It's All Part of the Plan

Start out this weekend with a big shout out to our students and our student leaders are volunteers, worship leaders Pastor Curtis and so many others were part of a group of about 600 students and leaders. You want your student In Ocoee Tennessee last weekend and back.

If you went on that trip.

Whether you are a student or a paid leader or a volunteer would you stand up on your feet. Right now, at any one of our campuses.

I want to stand up her hands together. Then they said here for just a minute to submit some more good news. 71 students, 71 students made a first-time profession of faith 71 Madeleine got a way that's not just 71 hands raised 71 students who took the initiative to come and identify themselves unto a leader to indicate that they were serious about this. It is amazing.

Let me give me just one story out of that 71 by the way, you would be seated now, one story out of that 71 I can share dozens but I just chose one on night number two of Pastor Curtis, who spoke the first three nights of camp. Pastor Curtis asked all students to write down things on the list that they were struggling with, or maybe even things that they were ashamed of. The next night he had the students raise their notebooks with a written or things down here for the first time they recognize that Jesus is blood had the power to cover the sins that make them new student who raised her notebook. During that time and one of her friends saw one of her student friends thought but instead of waiting for an adult or leader to go to that girl instead of saying that you need to go talk to her. She pulled the girl aside that night and talk with her, prayed with her and asked her if she wanted to receive Christ if she did. That is students leaving other students to faith in Christ. Praise God praise God. Anyway, I want to ask to also be praying throughout this week in your time with God which you to make it a matter of prayer that as our student teams of volunteers. Follow-up of the 71 and others that were sown in their hearts. Good deep and it would take roots okay. All right. In the six Harry Potter book there is a scene that might want to be one of the most confusing bewildering moments I've ever encountered in literature now that all the movies and the books are out. It's hard to capture the shock of reading alive when it first came out and I know some of your lightweight is this going to be a spoiler, but I feel like this is now part of our shared cultural knowledge like the fact that Darth Vader was Luke's father. And if you're like well then I got nothing left to say on that.

Okay, but I was Dumbledore discount become that Dumbledore is the wise sage of the Harry Potter series standoff, the Godfather, Santa Claus and Nicolas Cage all wrapped up into one has been severely weekend through a battle with evil Lord Baltimore to death eaters. As the battle is indeed he is dangling from the top of the tower holding on for his life, Severus Snape, who is a teacher at Hogwarts Castle in Erie, who is the protagonist of his nemesis throughout the series is holding onto Dumbledore, keeping him from falling. You've always been a little unsure about Snape not sure where his loyalties lie. I don't like him because Harry didn't like him, but she does not sure where he stands. Dumbledore makes eye contact Severus and says Severus please Severus instead of pulling him up, opens his hand and drops it. It seems like the ultimate act of betrayal adoption to his death. By the way, a moment when evil triumphs over good and everything is lost in the next book. However, you learn that Prof. Dumbledore had secretly confided to Snape that he was dying of a slow and irreversible curse, and that through his death he could grant to Harry a power that Harry would not have as long as Dumbledore was alive, a power that could defeat Lord Baltimore Dumbledore makes a promise that when the moment comes when the moment comes, Snape will let him die. Suddenly, that meaning of Dumbledore's plea there on that tower. The pleat Severus please get traverse Dumbledore's death was not an act of chaos or betrayal. It was all according to plan. Many great stories many great stories involve chapters where the characters go through something that at the time feels chaotic, tedious or tragic, only to learn later that it was all part of the plan. I'm thinking acacia like a totally not track the Harry Potter fan. Think of Daniel LaRusso's training at the hands of Mr. Biagi Luke's exile on the date of a system lightning McQueen getting stranded in radiator Springs that we've even seen it this week and some of the weird strategies of some of our Olympic athletes, the commentator comes on you seen things like this in the commentator comes on as is now now just because were in the seventh of eight laps and are runner is still importing place. That doesn't mean that you lose know this is all part of her Erwin plan to sprint past everyone at the last second. Sure enough, that's exactly what happens. Just so you know, if I were an Olympian.

I would never have the discipline to pursue that strategy. I would go out hot and if I got ahead I would try to stay as far ahead of everyone as I could for as long as I could, which is probably reason number 424 why I never made it as an Olympic athlete coming in last is the USA's JD Greer who actually led for the first three seconds of the race deployment support is a lot of things that turn out quite well. Have sad confusing chapters but they're all part of the plan. That is Daniel's message to us in the last three chapters of his book, things are dark.

He says they're about to get a lot darker, but don't despair.

It's all according to plan to go to Bible Daniel chapter 10 is were going to be I will be in the last three chapters to 11 and 12. We've called this series shining in Babylon because the book is about signing with the light of an uncommon hope in an increasingly dark world. Make no mistake, the backdrop of Daniel's book is somber and heavy and the world for the foreseeable future is not to get much better.

Daniel says impact is getting a lot worse, several prophetic visions in Daniel teach us that very thing. And I know everybody today wants to think that the world is the opposite.

It's gradually progressing toward a utopia where we got no more political or economic problems where everybody lives in abundance and prosperity were all united holding hands across the globe in one and one multiethnic village. But that's not where Daniel says the world is going, nor is it where Jesus said it was going to go in Matthew 23 and 24, where the apostle John says in Revelation of the world is headed Bible writers consistently tell us that the world is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better, so be encouraged. Gray was closing for not getting type gender Bible Daniel chapter 10 what you look at the bad news and the good news. Daniel uses to conclude his book. These last three chapters. Daniel's record of his final visions now is a lot of details in here. Read more and you and I know some of you totally want to geek out on those details and we are going to touch on a few of them.

You focus mostly on the bigger picture.

And the bigger point Daniel try to make matters why he is telling us these things, love what Martin Luther, the reformer said about this passage, he said and I quote Daniel concludes the record of his terrifying visions and dreams on a note of joy, pointing to the coming of Christ eternal reign of glory whoever wants to study Daniel's visions profitably.

They're not focuses attention on the details of the visions of the dreams, okay will will touch a little bit when I got a focus on but instead he says you should seek comfort in the Savior Jesus Christ, whom they portray in the deliverance that he brings from sin and its misery. See if you listen really closely this weekend, and the details of these prophecies you hear the footsteps so to speak of Jesus as he begins to run for the quarters of history coming first to a manger in Bethlehem and ultimately to his place on the throne of the ancient of days. Bad news first. Daniel 10 verse one in the third year of King Cyrus of Persia emergent message was revealed to Daniel, then I Daniel Moran for three full weeks.

The message was so heavy that Daniel Moran for three entire weeks. During that time, he says, verse three, I did not eat any rich food nor minimum meat or wine entered my mouth and I didn't even put any oil on my body.

You know it's bad when you're too overwhelmed even to rub in your essential oils Daniel to make across the room to flip on his lavender diffuser traverse for an angel comes to comfort him. He puts a little put a little data chamomile behind his ear. I flipped on the lavender diffuser and he begins to explain the meaning of his vision to him. A lot of things in this second vision of Daniel overlap with the previous visions that we studied in Daniel.

In fact, learn this. All the visions and dreams of Daniel whether they are given to pagan kings or to Daniel himself, all of them are about a series of world kingdoms that are going to arise. Each one oppressive and hostile to the gospel after Babylon came Persia after Persia was Greeks and after Greece was Rome. After Rome. There's a final kingdom is headed by someone we now call the Antichrist. Daniel explains to us that certain elements of the first few kingdoms of Greece and of Persia Rome first at certain elements are going to give us a foretaste of what that final kingdom of the antichrist is going to be like for example chapter 7 and eight we studied out a few weeks ago we saw the Daniel prophesied that a ruthless king was going to arise out of Greece who was going to be particularly hostile toward God's people that practice. He explained he was fulfilled 300 years later by a leader of Greece named Antiochus epiphanies came to power. Around 160 BC I showed you when we study Daniel 7878 that just like Daniel prophesied Antiochus epiphanies was particularly blasphemous toward God and he was particularly vicious for God's people is been called the Hitler of the Old Testament.

He slaughtered in cold blood, tens of thousands of Jewish men, women and children desecrated the temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar and enforcing the Jewish leaders to eat pig flesh even committed what Bible writers called the abomination of desolation by setting up a statue of himself in the holy of holies and making the Jews bow down to I told you to read about all that in first and second Maccabees which are historical books are written by Jews who lived right before Christ's first coming. There's books contain a lot of helpful historical information. Although they are not Scripture and explain you why. Okay Daniel explains, though, that Antiochus epiphanies was a tight a prefiguring of a future world King was going to be everything that Antiochus wise, but much, much worse. I was going to be the antichrist. I share all that because the first part of Daniel 10 is again about Antiochus epiphanies and Daniel is describing the devastation that Antiochus is going to bring to the Jews devastation. We bury 40 going over him, and suddenly in verse 36 in chapter 11 he switches from talking about Antiochus the prophesied about a future king. Another came way off into the future king.

He calls the king of the North the antichrist that switch happens in verse 36, only that you take a look at a verse 36 then this king, he says, is to do whatever he wants, he will exalt and magnify himself above every God you will say outrageous things against the God of gods, he will be successful until the time of wrath is been completed because what has been decreed will be accomplished. He will not show regard for any other God because he will magnify himself above all. Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses, strength, and he will deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign God.

Member how I showed you in Daniel seven. The Daniel says the antichrist has the eyes of a man when you look at then you see something at work behind.

And that's not human that's what Daniel is saying again hear the antichrist losing a man is a man but is empowered by a foreign God, namely Satan himself. He will greatly honor those who acknowledge him and he will make the antichrist will make rulers of many and distributing land as a reward for serving and following him. Chapter 7 and eight, Daniel had said three things really characterize the rule be antichrist will review those really quickly because we see echoes of these here again in these verses. Remember, remember to get your notes out the back of cities or things that is. He devours much less that was in chapter 7 verse 25's aim is to destroy all the slick talking and all the flattery and the rewards hatred, prejudice, genocide, slavery, human trafficking, the commoditization of the vulnerable abortion militarism. Those are all tools in his arsenal.

Secondly, we said after devouring much/he doubts God's word and chapter 8 verse 25 he publicly undermines what Scripture teaches about things like humanity, sexuality, salvation even uses supernatural power from Satan to do miracles to deceive people into believing what he says third third, he exalts man that was also verse 25. The first one is in exalt Zingo says again here in Chapter 11 is himself, but he's also going to get people to do the same thing with themselves to focus on themselves and glory in their capabilities and accomplishments. He's kind of the ultimate humanness that we saw in chapter 7 and this is really really important.

Right is that even though the antichrist himself is not here yet the spirit of antichrist is first John 218 diversely looked at percent to 18 children. It is already the last out and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, and is even now already.

Many antichrists have come, we can see the spirit of antichrist at work all around us, but you know we went over this in detail, but just because you such offer.

What happens next look at where he is devouring flesh and all of our progress in all of our civilization.

The last 100 years have been the bloodiest century at all of human history. More people have been killed by genocide and war and abortion than any other century history is at work. I told you in your life to destroy her flesh. Some of you are experiencing.

Are you coming here and I will have to persuade you of that alcoholism and addiction to pornography and materialism and narcissism. He is working to erode and destroy the foundation of everything good in your life and your marriage is in shatters a good relation with your king is and shatters everything in your life is being destroyed because he is come to devour much flesh and he deceived you into that he is working to make you doubt God's word is always where everywhere and every smooth setting presentation things that really what God says. I'm not sure that's really what I'm sure that's pretty outdated so I told you some of your light well I'm just questioning what the Bible says about about sexuality and I'm just trying to find myself and I'm like no you're not, you are dabbling with. Hell, that's what you're doing or enemy begins every attack by making you question God's work explained that he is at work trying to get you to exalt yourself to think that your agenda is the most important you know best for your life through things as benign as Facebook and Twitter and Instagram reels and consumer driven commercials and leadership seminars is trying to get you fixate on yourself whispers in your ear that you know what's best for your life that no one's ever unlock your potential, but nobody appreciate you write that you better look out for you, because nobody else is going to but you can only be happy when when your kingdom comes in your will is done. Make no mistake about it, my friend, the spirit of antichrist is all ready here.

Daniel tells us that he employs the powers of the state and the machinery of cultural and media to promote those three things is basically in control of of politics and media.

And and and and culture that I mean everybody working in those things is a lot of people like Daniel on that are going to be in there that are witnesses for Jesus, but the general control of that, the prince of the power of the year. The spirit that is at work in the unbelieving world. He is already here is already using those things to shape the world know the bad news is that things are only going to get worse as the antichrist coming years. Daniel says at the beginning of chapter 12 about the in chapter 12 verse one there will be a time of distress such as never occurred.

Since nations came into being, until that time. The worst is yet to come. Critics often say that evangelical Christians have a persecution complex.

We always imagine everybody's out to get us can honestly say that that's a valid critique by just just watch cable news. We can be a little paranoid and way oversensitive but but we might be like that sometimes because we understand who is at work in the world and what his name actually is. Daniel tells us was it was me. Under no illusions persecution against Christians in the world is as high as it is ever been, and it is likely only only going to get worse. Open doors agreed that our church and I have partner with for many years as a ministry that helps persecuted Christians around the world tells us today get tested over 340 million Christians today.

Right now, this weekend, 340 million Christians live in places where they are experiencing high levels of persecution, not sideways.

Looks are not job affliction, but like going to jail losing your life right. That is the highest in history. Last year, almost 5000 believers. They say were martyred because of their fate, not just 5000 believers, but their dying because of their faith in Christ. Over 4000 Christians were imprint of 4000 Christian churches were burned another 4000 Christians were imprisoned. Most of them without trial because of their faith and even right here in our own country where we supposedly have a guaranteed freedom of religion we are seeing the steady erosion of those things already in some places, if you hold what Scripture teaches about sexuality or gender, or the way of salvation or the preciousness of life from the womb to the tomb. You can be labeled as a bigot and canceled or fired Dr. George Yancey was an African-American professor who taught here at our church about overcoming racial strife is a new book out on anti-Christian discrimination in America points out in this book that 32% get this regional at the sink it 32% of all Americans identify theologically conservative Christians as their least favorite group in society liking them significantly less and rating them is more dangerous than other groups. By comparison, only 31% identified Muslims that way. So it is fair. Dr. Yancey says it is fair to say that if we are concerned about anti-Muslim prejudice and we should be. We should also at least be aware of anti-Christian prejudice. Dr. Yancey documents with a pretty impressive compilation of statistics that being a professing Christian who holds to what Christians I believe the last 2000 years about sexuality and gender in the way of salvation will hurt you significantly in the academic world the journalistic world the political world the artistic world the medical world and increasingly even the business world. So yes, I'll say it, we can be a little paranoid, but you will forgive me if we see a trajectory in those things that Daniel warns us about this and I do not want to contribute to conspiracy theories.

If you click this on YouTube.

Equip this part to I would document say the spirit of the enemy is every bit as much at work in.

She went on as he is in the ACLU is working every culture shaping institution seeking to foster eight doubt God's word and exalt man. Make no mistake, we are sending our kids out into a hostile world and we gotta prepare them for that little Bureau cute little songs and little habits and in my learning to say the right words. That's not going to cut in the world us to come. We have got to teach them that there is something worth living for and dying for that is stronger than all the opposition of the world is better than any of the world's affirmation another, never going soup they're never going to be applauded by the world and hold fast to their confession of faith and it's okay because Jesus is worth it. That's what we gotta move beyond just the sort of lazy, discipleship were content with job Christian children who don't have sex and noble way to vote. We gotta teach them to be overcome, or shoot love Jesus enough to give their lives for him now a sale that is I read this I read this and you should to Vanessa will no wonder Daniels grieving dark view of the future right, we should grieve.

Also, all the world generally spirit speaking is a tragic place. God's people suffer and are sometimes tortured and slain again and again. Just as never comes on earth.

And it's only getting worse.

He says this is like a handmade or donate to be assured. John 16 in this world you have tribulation, sometimes in church were in such a hurry to rejoice. We overlook the grief that some people coming in are feeling some of you coming in this weekend you're facing pressure at your job to conform your suffering from the scorn of friends for the sake of godliness.

Or maybe you're just suffering the world can be a dark place and we want to grieve with you and not get so close to that happy songs we don't take time to spread knowledge. I know that it's dark.

I know that is painful and that's exactly what Scripture tells us we should expect service for survivor what is the good news. I thought you'd never ask you been waiting to tell you and you have an answer. We go with you three elements of hope that the Daniel gives you the bright shiny and awesome number one this is the suffering is limited.

Suffering is limited.

What stands out to me as I read this is how in control, God seems to be of all of us. Daniel drops all hints about that along the way. Luke 1136, which read second ago. I look at it again you will be successful the antichrist to be successful until the time of wrath is completed because what has been decreed not by him about God was been decreed will be accomplished time of wrath is completed. What is been decreed, is accomplished.

In other words, this is all part of the plan under persecution is real, and it's painful.

It's all been decreed by God but time has been set and not an ounce more than comes that God has intended and determined like a terrible scene where where was Snape and Dumbledore looks bad. Looks Babbitt is all according to the plan. One day the meaning of these tragic events going to be reversed when my favorite aspects of the book of Daniel is how specific God is about where to come from and how long is your last. By the way if you never see what I'm about to show you it will blow your mind. Okay once you go back, hold your finger. Chapter 12 the back jumper not real quick what you tighten your belt and put on your nerd glasses you need of your fermented for 24 Daniel 916 70 weeks are decreed God sister Daniel through the angel about your people and your holy city to bring the rebellion to an end. The sandwich term for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place a week volunteer Kate nerd glasses on a week in the Jewish language just means a period of seven I could be seven days a week of days or it could mean that's here seven years. A week of years. So how many weeks of years are prophesied 77 years time, 70, 70 weeks, $0.70 or seven weeks. That's 490 years. Okay what happens at the end of those 70 weeks of years and about 490 years. It says what that point rebellion is brought to an end stop we put the salmon iniquities will be atone for everlasting righteousness. We brought in all biblical prophecy will be fulfilled in the most holy place will be restored okay Windows 490 week start. You ask, great question right intelligent verse 25 exactly the start know and understand this from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem doctrine to start the stopwatch from that moment until an anointed one, the ruler will be seven weeks and 62 weeks.

Yet Jerusalem will be rebuilt with the Plaza and a moat. But in very difficult times and the clock starts ticking at the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. That decree was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia around 445 BC read about that event. By the way, Nehemiah chaplaincy that's that's the story of that from that date he says is 77 weeks and then 62 weeks, seven weeks again.

Nerd glasses is 49 years, which is roughly how long it took to rebuild Jerusalem, then 62 more seven-year periods pass after that I want to express 26 after these 62 weeks plus the first seven the anointed one will be cut off.

Seven weeks and 62 weeks mean 69 weeks and then the anointed one is going to be cut off 69 weeks of years. That's 483 years.

I did the math for you, but that's for 93 years for Nader is now using the Jewish custom of a 360 day year 483 years after 445 BC when Artaxerxes issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem that would land us at 8032 3280, which is the date the Jesus scholar Telus was crucified.

That's when the anointed one was cut off God gave to Daniel, the date that Jesus would die some 480 years report have appointed as a God who can prophesied the details of something like that is in control of all of it when you agree it's all part of the plan. Verse 26 watches, then the people of the coming will will destroy the city and the sanctuary that happened in 70 A.D. the Romans are are going to re-destroy the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. they want this for 27 he will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week you will put a stop sacrifice and offering and the abomination of desolation will occur again after the anointed one. Another way of saying, but a little Messiah, anointed one for me to Hebrew after he is cut off. There is one more week of seven years.

The 70th week. There are two ways you can interpret this one way is that the last week of years are not literal years that week represents the final chapter of human history, which were in now. It's a stretch out for a long time. The second way you could interpret this and I believe the correct way is that after the Messiah was cut off from 32 A.D. the timeline was paused and we are now in a parenthetical.

Commonly called the church age were God has shifted the focus of his activity away from the nation of Israel and onto the church which is comprised mostly of Gentiles non-Jews. Most of us, but at the end of time, when the antichrist officially makes his debut. The focus is going to re-shift back to Israel and we will enter into that last 70th week a seven year. We call the tribulation the tribulation of the book of Revelation is all about Daniel's 70th week, not here is why I strongly prefer that second interpretation and not the one where sister like this.

Your metaphor for an outburst is like the first 69 weeks were literal surgery. It was roughly 483, 360 day years to when Jesus died, so why would you suddenly switch the last seven to make them an elastic metaphor.

Second, like I noted the book of Revelation is all about the 70th week. In the book of Revelation strongly implies that this is something in the future, not something were living in now. There's a few commentators that try to argue were living in the midst of Revelation right now but I just don't find the reasoning that compelled to be wrong and is not a first issue order faith you want to leave our church. We disagree with me but it just didn't seem to me to be written that way. In Revelation, third verse 24 says that 70 weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city for Daniel your people would be the Jews in your city would be Jerusalem. These 70 weeks focus on Israel and Jerusalem well right now.

Like I said, the focus of God's work is in the church which is mostly made up of Gentiles non-Jews. In fact, Paul says in Romans 9 to 11 that God has temporarily set aside his focus on Israel to build the church among the Gentiles.

One day Paul says one day in future to resume his focus on Israel, and when he dies and more people are to get saved in any previous chapter in human history is going to be awesome balls that but the point is, Daniel says these 70 weeks are about Israel. So we live in… Right now and there's another really really terrible week coming at Katie when we get to the encouraging part was the encouragement is in the word decreed, if God decrees all this with this amount of suppressive specificity does not show you he's in charge of all of it and what that means is that what looks to us like bad news is going to one day be reversed to be good news.

Satan drops Dumbledore, it's okay. It's all part of the plan. That means that when something feels dark and chaotic to me right now in my life. I can still rest it because 70. It's all part of the plan. One day the terrible meaning of all these things can get reverse is not Dumbledore's tragic death, but part of his ultimate victory is one question I heard about a man never heard I heard and answered me remanding Steve St. speak at a desiring God conference in 2005, Steve was the son of Nate St. who was one of the five young missionaries who were brutally and tragically scared to death on the beaches of Ecuador in the 1950s they been trying to establish contact with this isolated tribe called the alkyds in order to bring food and supplies and eventually the gospel to them. But on January 8, 1956 they were deceived by the tribe and murdered in cold blood.

Steve was the son of one of the slain missionaries Nate St. and at this desiring God conference some 50 years later, he recounted how, as a young boy he had struggled with what you said, it is why God had allowed that to happen. Why did God let my daddy die he could've prevented it. They were trying to do the right thing.

Why not stop it now here it is late 60s.

He said he realized that he was that God did not just allow it to happen. He said God planted what that sink in. Just allow he planned.

Steve said 50 years later, we can see that God use the incident to pave the way for that tribe of alkyds to be saved because after the murder of those five men and their wives went back into the tribe. The troublesome move by their generosity and the forgiveness they never seen anything like it.

That piece was established and eventually nearly the whole tribe came to faith. Several years later. In fact, Steve knew I was hearing speak got the bad ties the very man the very men then tidy. What's his name would put a spear into his father's heart and that man Steve said at this conference became the surrogate grandfather of my children, a beloved member of my family and Steve said this, that conference was one of the most powerful statements I've ever heard.

He said, why is it that we demand every chapter to be good when God promises only that in the last chapter, he will make all the other chapters make sense. So part of plan I know it's hard to believe in your life. It's all part of the plan.

I know it's dark and trying to communicate that she is dark understand that I need you to understand that it limits there is limited in one day is coming when I get reverse that your first element of hope your second and third needs are much quicker.

Number two uses that the suffering is limited but not to the resurrection's eternal after Daniel tells us about this time of untold suffering is to be a time of distress such as never occurred. Since nations came into being is that at that time all your people who were found written in the book will escape many who sleep in the dust of the earth are going to wake somebody to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. Just as a time of persecution is to create watch this so is a resurrection and a certain and as real as our suffering, so is the certainty and the reality of our resurrection. The ancient of days and sits on his throne of wheels saying I have decreed it all, since above it all and will restore it all had the first word. Daniel says you have the last or hope friend is not in success in this life are coming to this church thinking that Jesus is going to give you your best life now in success in a job in a perfect marriage. You might be disappointed or hope is not in perfect marriages or prosperous businesses and political power. Our hope is in the resurrection of the dead. Our hope is in the certainty that Satan and sin and death will ultimately be defeated and adjusters hardship and persecution have been decreed. So is the eternal reign of the anointed one.

Jesus was going to renew and restore all things and let us rule with him forever. Right. Note know this very important friend.

Not everybody participates in this blessing for not everybody is this coming of the ancient of days as the coming of this Messiah, not a forever body is not joyful. Verse two says many who sleep in the dust away many means not all verse one says that it's only those who were found written in the book that will escape the book of life for revelation because of the most important book in history. Life contains a list of all those and only those who have repented of their sins and trust in Jesus save the most important question some of his arrest. Is your name in that book. We looked over the names this weekend. We went through alphabetically. When we come to your name in the book, the worst feelings in the world to me is when I show up in some hotel late night check-in.

After traveling all day. I give my name rear expect them to say Mr. Greer, your room is ready would have the hotel clerk would back me and say I'm sorry sir names not on the reservation list that you stand there and I argue like there is no tomorrow. My one my sister to make a reservation, but inside I'm thinking that I draw the ball on this the way, my assistant, Allie will me to point out that this is happened only like once maybe twice in all the many years she worked for me.

One is how tragic you find out on the most important list ever compiled. Your name is not on whose names are written in the book is a church member's is a people who live mostly good lives no those who have repented of their sins and surrender control of their life to Jesus and trust in him as their only hope of salvation.

Those who have been born again. Has there been a time that you can point to when you were born again is this an salvation is a gift that's offered freely to all who will receive an matter who you are what you done Jesus death is paid for your sin is known for it, covered in intelligence covered for covenant forever that you got to receive is not yours until you claim I read this week the last year Americans left over $3 billion unclaimed in gift cards, 3 billion's waste never claimed this offer is worth far more than $3 billion. The price of your do not leave it unclaimed.

Suffering is limited. The resurrection is eternal. Finally, the power is available in this in between time y'all between Daniel's 69th and 70th week Jesus has inaugurated something in Daniel alludes to it in our key verse for the series verse three and those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky above and those who turn many to righteousness shine like the stars forever and ever. Jesus talked about it this way all authority has been given to me in heaven on earth. So go preach the gospel in my power make disciples of all the nations, the power and the authority of the kingdom is now here upon us to preach the gospel make disciples. In other words, Daniel says to turn many to righteousness the full measure of the kingdom may be coming in the future, but the powers are now repeatedly throughout the Gospels, Jesus kept telling people you know you keep looking for the kingdom of God is something that's only common in the future, but I'm telling is right here in front of you.

I'm here, I'm the power of the king and the Holy Spirit, the power has taken root in us, so in the midst of a dark world ruled by the spirit of antichrist were supposed to set up little outpost of the kingdom, like bright stars started on ink black sky landscape with the power of the kingdom were to preach the gospel that sets people free from sin and and work with our hands to restore justice and demonstrate kingdom and lift others out of poverty and break chains of oppression and promote these our lives ought to give glimpses of that coming kingdom power is at work in us right now in the Holy Spirit. That's what it means shiny Babylon. That's why we called the series we did those who are wise. Those who have turned their lives over to Jesus are going to shine like the brightness of the sky above and those who turn many to righteousness shine like the stars forever and ever. That's who we are church that is who God called us to be. So here's the question. Are you ready to be part of this movement whole reason we did the series are you ready to be a part of this movement as we shiny Babylon much about your heads if you what I get to invitations for you with has about the limitations you need to trust Christ first one needs a little fashion were get saved you sure your name is written the book of life usually find in there for looked in Sam not sure give you a prayer that you can express to God that would receive Christ would be a prayer of repentance. These are not magic words sibling repeating them after me is not going to anything to come from your heart. This is a prayer of salvation that God will hear Lord Jesus, I know that I cannot save myself and I know that you did everything necessary to save me when you got on the cross telling you believe that his death on the cross for you, say I'm ready to receive this gift.

I surrender my life to you right now turning from us an attorney control of my life over to you right now I can't see everybody in our church, obviously, but with heads now denies close as you praying that prayer might now just hold her hand to see this weekend. I'm praying that prayer. Several of you that I can see more that I can't seem to put your hands down, but I pray for every hand is raised, I know that you're doing something and then I know that they prayed from their heart repented of their sins, receive Christ. That's you again with has brown eyes close as you do what I often do that is prayed that prayer the action step is when you touch the word Reading Re: 80 watch the word ready to 33933 what you know before you walk out your campus text word ready to 33933 is not an action set for you. There's a second invitation for a lot of you it's time for you to get involved your Babylon. It's a hostile world is no neutral ground and you need to start shining like stars, knowing that you knew that his mother coming wise and only become wise is by submitting to Jesus.

We want you to get off the sidelines. What you get involved here. Just a moment your campus pastor to give you an action step or a handful of them so you can connect maybe right now this with heads bouncing on I'm ready.

I'm ready to go on the sidelines and I'm ready to start shining about will you tell Jesus that right now believe you fear for a few seconds. Few moments met all of our campuses are our campus pastors are going to come and pray with you and give you the next