Services | Living as Strangers in a Foreign Land: God Is Still Sovereign

Bulletin

December 2, 2018

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”
“We Could Change the World”

SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 66:1 - 4

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
MESSAGE Pastor Joe
“DANIEL – Living as Strangers in a Foreign Land: God Is Still Sovereign”

“The Anti-Messiah’s Rise and Fall”

Time of Reflection
PRAYER TIME –

“Bring the Rain”

GIVING OF SELVES AND OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC –
By Pru Hungate

PRAISE AND WORSHIP
“We Shine”
“Shine On”
“Shine”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Benediction “I Surrender My Life”

SERMON NOTES
Daniel 11:36 – 39 He will magnify himself above God
Daniel 11:40 – 44 Conflict with many nations
Daniel 11:45 The final conflict
Daniel 12:1 Time of distress like no other
Matthew 24:29 – 31
Revelation 19:11 - 18

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Scritpures

Daniel 11:36 – 39 He will magnify himself above God

Daniel 11:36 "Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.

Daniel 11:37 "He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.

Daniel 11:38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.

Daniel 11:39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

Daniel 11:40 – 44 Conflict with many nations

Daniel 11:40 "At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through.

Daniel 11:41 "He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.

Daniel 11:42 "Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape.

Daniel 11:43 "But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.

Daniel 11:44 "But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many.

Daniel 11:45 The final conflict

Daniel 11:45 "He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him. 1. Lit adornment; i.e. probably Jerusalem and its temple

Daniel 12:1 Time of distress like no other

Daniel 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Matthew 24:15 – 31

Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Matthew 24:16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Matthew 24:17 "Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.

Matthew 24:18 "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

Matthew 24:19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Matthew 24:20 "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.

Matthew 24:21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

Matthew 24:22 "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, `Behold, here is the Christ,' or `There He is,' do not believe him.

Matthew 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.

Matthew 24:26 "So if they say to you, `Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, `Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them.

Matthew 24:27 "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Matthew 24:28 "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. The Glorious Return

Matthew 24:29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:30 "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Parable of the Fig Tree

Revelation 19:11 - 18

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Revelation 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

Revelation 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Revelation 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

Revelation 19:15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

Revelation 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Revelation 19:17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,

Revelation 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of 1commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great."

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Transcript of Service

In the book of Daniel. Which we have been taking a look at for quite a number of weeks now? He tells us. A number of things. He gives us through the word of the Lord Prophecy of things that will happen in the future as far as his future. In our pass. He also get some very specific prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and gives an exact time frame for that Messiah to come. And. But he doesn't limit his prophecies to the Messiah. He's also been given revelation if you will about what I call the Anti Messiah, which most of us called the Antichrist and it's the same difference is Messiah is more the Hebrew word in Christ is more the Greek word so Jesus Christ and Jesus Messiah. Means the same thing and so he tells us of the Anti Messiah. Which is good for us? But it's interesting how we believers. Like most people kind of focus on the positive and kind of ignore the difficulties and so when we are witnessing to our friends or family or neighbors. We talking end and the word? Is there and I'm not saying it isn't act. Talk about the abundant life. And most people think of the abundant life is being so you get all the good stuff and God gives you all the blessings and nothing ever bad happens. To you and if something bad happens. To you then God must be mad at you, or you did something wrong, and we get all into that and we think that God. Purpose for saying let there be light sport for me to be happy. And if I'm not happy, then there's something wrong. While it is true that God came to give us an abundant life. We have missed define what abundant life is and if you take a look at the Scriptures. The reality of the scriptures are if you're a believer. It's going to be rough. Because you're going to live in a world that has a different world view than you do. You're going to believe that God created all of this. And the rest of the world is going to say your simpleton that you know science is far above and God was just a God of the gaps if you didn't know what was going on. Then God did it and if you do then God didn't and gods unnecessary. But the world is also one of power and so everybody wants to be in charge. And so you've got those who want to be Kings and presidents and prime ministers and want to rule in by the nature of humans. We love power and as. Then power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely but we don't listen to that. We just want power and you can see as the world leaders seek power. They seek to overcome other nations and subjective. Kate them and their people. Daniel is going to tell has told us about the various kingdoms coming in his future. The me to Persian Empire. The Greek Empire. And he goes through the list of future kingdoms and last week. We took a look at some of the prophecy. Went through a real quick discussion of the remaining me to Persian Empire and then how Alexander the great would come quickly conquering and then his Kingdom would be divided into fourth and then the prophecy kind of was emphasized on the Kings. Which was North of Israel and the Kings of the South? Which is South of Israel so the solution empire and the Ptolemies and how they kept going back and forth war in with each other and that impacted Israel because they would go through Israel to war with each other. And then he comes in Chapter 112 verse 36. And he's going to talk about another.

Dictator if you will another ruler and if you're if you're not careful. You're going to think oh well. He still talking about the Last Dictator, he just talked about which with Anti Caucus, the fourth. But what is going to be discussed of this dictator does not happen to enter caucus so therefore you can't be seeing him so the kind of the best way that I can give you understanding is if you're looking off in the distance and you see a mountain range and you see A. You get a mountain peak, oftentimes because of the distance. It looks like they're very close. But once you get to the one mountain peak. All of a sudden you discover there is a Valley so there's this 2 mountain. Big anti a caucus and then what is going to be discussed in verse 36 on some of the? Attributes of Andrea Caucus will have of this anti Messiah, but there will be some additional things so will take a look verse. 36 is this then the King will do as he pleases and he will exalt and magnify himself above every God and will speak monstrous things against the God of the gods and He. Until the indignation is finish for that which is decreed will be done so. This new dictator. This anti Messiah first will be one who seeks his own praise and magnification and glory. But is not satisfied with just seeking his own magnification. He then speaks contemptible blasphemous things about God. So is that while worship me. It's worship me, but the God of gods. He says things that you and I pray. Match. But he's going to prosper. Which again is a sign for us to remember so often? We think well when somebody prospers they must be doing well. And so the church is doing well it must be preaching the word. Or not. Circumstances don't necessarily dictate what the faithfulness of the people are. And so just as we need to stop insane. The results doesn't determine whether they are faithful hits are they faithful. His prosperity does not depend on the fact that he's doing well as a matter of fact he's pretty eagle maniac. So he seeks his own magnification. Any speaks monstrous things against God. But he will prosper until but the clue is until he's finished. So we're given a clue right up in front this isn't going to last forever. He will show no regard for the gods of his father's or for the desire of women. Nor will he show regard for any other God for? He will magnify himself above the mall. So we're given a clue that he does come from some kind of religious background.

That religious background, maybe Jewish Christian Muslim Sikh may come from. But he's going to have a religious background. But he is not going to follow the background of his father's. He's going to seek in Essence. His own magnification and so he's going to glory. He's not going to say, Well, though the gods of my father's don't exist. He's just going to say, I'm better than that. So we met he will magnify himself and he will have no regard. For the other gods and then it says for the desire women and some people think that means something sexual and other people says that for instance, when Jesus was going to prophesied. It was the desire of women to be that one who would bear the Messiah and is like. About that all about me so I'm not throwing up. When we when he gets here, we'll figure it out together. First, 38, but Instead, he will honor a God of fortresses. My God, whom is fathers did not know he won her hand with gold and silver costly stones and treasures. He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign God he will give great honor. Those who have knowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many and he will parcel out land for a price and so he? Not only is it successful, he's powerful so much so that he's he has things to parse up so you can't give land if you don't own land. So he has been very successful in his triumph and is seizing and since he seems to be one who is following the God of fortresses. The God of war. If you will, he's probably going to be taking these by military action. But those who side with them will prosper. And those who don't. Won’t And in this he will give Glory and honor and contribute to this God that helps him acquire what he does and so instead of seeking the God who is father's worship is fathers don't even know this God. That, he will see. Then it says this.

And at the end time the King of the South will collide with him and the King of the North was storm against him with chariots with horsemen with many ships. They will enter countries overflow them and pass through, he will also enter the beautiful land and many countries will fall. Rescued out of his hand esteem Moab and the 4 most part of the sons of Amon. Then he will stretch out his hand against other countries and the land of Egypt will not escape. But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over the precious things of Egypt and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels. But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him and he will go forth with great wrath, and destroy and annihilate many and he will pitch the tents of his rock wall stuff there, so he? In his seeking of greater and greater power and control. He all of a sudden, it says the King of the South, which is probably Egypt. And it says the King of the North in this case, it may be the Syrians and those or could be further North, the Russians or whatever, but some place North of? Israel they will all of a sudden say, Well wait a minute. This guy is getting too much power. Too much control and so they decide that they are going to war against him. But there not successful and not only that he is able to. Conquer other countries in this battle. But there are rumors. From the East and from the North so probably further north, and East maybe China or whatever. These countries will say, Well wait a minute. That's kind of enough and so there's going to be this assembling of nations against him and he is going to in essence occupy Israel. Getting ready for this battle that's where it says he pitches his tense and the beautiful land and that is real but it says that there is these countries of Eden and Adam and the sons of Ammon and Moab that will escape. Well, there are no countries like that. At present, so if you look on a book of maps in your Bible. You look at where these people occupied pretty much is where present day Jordan is? And so for some reason God give these countries and now maybe this country protection. Well, I think it's not just out of whim. Who's atom is the brother of Jacob Esau and his people. Moab was the first born of lots? After the death of his wife and his wives husbands. Annam and was the second point, so it was the Cousins and so in essence. God is going to protect these lands. But there's a reason I believe, and were not told and Daniel Jesus gives the sick. And so. He says that he will be just it will be ready for this battle, and he will pitch is tense of the Royal Pavilion between the seat and the beautiful Holy Mountain, so somewhere between the Mediterranean and Mount Zion. He will be prepared. And he will come to his end and no one will help him. Now, when we read this we think well. That's because he so powerful and so whatever that perhaps no one cares and just doesn't come to assist. Or God is so powerful that know how will help. And so this gives us a little clue as to what the Anti Messiah. Is going to be and as we read this? We all that's interesting until we come to the first verse of the next chapter. Chapter 12, which is a little disturbing says verse one now at that time. Michael the great Prince, who stands guard over the sons of your people over Israel will arise.

And there will be a time of distress. Such has never occurred since there was a nation until that time and at that time your people. Everyone who is found written in the book will be say we will be rescued. Now that the words that are distressing to me. Are these and there will be a time in distress? Such has never occurred since there was a nation until that time. And you don't have to be a very careful student of history to know that history is marked with the suffering of people. And you don't have to be a great Bible scholar to see how much the people of God suffer. In even out and so these things that we know his history that most of us don't ever talk about is like the rain event a caucus and he'll caucus who killed about 80 about 40,000 Jews since him into slavery and did all these other things, and how he tried to wipe out. The practices of gods worship and to install his own. Gods of Zeus and whatever. And then we think of the 20th century. The sufferings caused by people like Hitler and pull pot and mousey tongue and Stalin and all these millions of people who suffered and I both for religious reasons and 4. Anti religion, you'll hear people talk about well, more people died because of religion. That's a lie, just in the 20th century more people died because of atheism, then religion. But people have suffered and God's people, the Jews have suffered look at the death camps end up and the Holocaust and you go and this is going to be worse. As it says that no time is going to be more distressing than this time. So it's no wonder Daniel when you receive these visions was shaken to his core. Now. Jesus. Understood that this. Was a time before after his? Coming. You see this is an talk about and his caucus doesn't talk about history in Matthew Chapter 24, starting with burst. I'm going to start with verse 15. I know we've got 29 listed here. Therefore, when you see the abomination of Desolation, which was spoke enough to Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place. Let the reader understand then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. He saying when you see the abomination of this thing, which means not the one day auntie a caucus did as he did. One is Jesus. There's another one coming that's worth. He's going don't hang around take off. And some of the advice given another scriptures is. Go to in essence Jordan. Go to the mountain whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out of that that are in the House and whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. He saying this situation is going to be so terrible. You don't have time get out of Dodge. Fully then he says the world who those who are pregnant and those who are nursing with babies in those days why? Because let's face it, children slow you down. They're tired there, we gotta carry them insane. This is not something to take lightly, but pray that your flight will not be in the winter or on a Sabbath. Now.

The previous pastor will spend a month in Israel and one of the things that he told about that that that sticks in my memory, he goes on the Sabbath. If you're in a high rise building like if you're in a hotel or something. It was considered work to push a button. And so if you're in like a 32 story building. You have to stop at every single floor going up. And every single floor going down so if you're trying to get out of Dodge really quick. It's going to be really stressful. To be on the 32nd floor and have to stop 32 times before you get to the bottom. So when Jesus says pray that it doesn't happen on the Sabbath. He knew exactly what he was talking about. For then there will be a great tribulation. Search has not occurred since the beginning of the world. Until now nor ever will Jesus Reconfirms this. Terrible tribulation that will come in these times, he saying it's worth it's worse than we have ever know. Unless those dates had been cut short know life would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short Jesus, saying If I let things happen. Everyone would be destroyed, but because of God's people. He ends this tribulation period. And then he gives us some advice and they we should follow then if anyone says you behold here is the Christ. Or there, he is, do not believe him or false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders twistingly mislead if possible. Even the elect see this is why I'm talking about these things so many people say, Well, when the tribute. He added here, So what does it matter well apparently there's going to be some elect there is otherwise he would just say? Well, they to mislead a bunch of people. The signs and wonders are going to be so spectacular that believers could be tempted to. Fall prey. So again just because somebody does things that is. Miracles doesn't mean he's from God Behold. I have told you in advance, so if they say to you behold. He is in the wilderness to go do not go out or behold. He is in the inner rooms do not believe them for just as a lightning come from the East and flashes even to the West so will the sun. Men be. He saying it's not going to be a secret. When I come back the whole world's going to see it when Jesus came the first time he was just in a little town called Bethlehem then nobody cared about and it took a couple years for some wise guys to show up to give him homage in presence. The world still cared so little about him, he was born in a stall in A. Not even in a hotel room. There goes don't believe them. It's going to be obvious when I come and then he says. Something I used to think was really strange collect ha. He says this wherever the corpses. There are there vultures will gather? And you At a really weird comment. Until I read a little more about the scriptures then so I'm going to give you a little clue in just a moment? What Jesus is saying it's a very key clue but mainly after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be dark and the Moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shake.

And then the sign of the son of Man, will appear in the sky and then all the tribes of the Earth will mourn and they will see the cinnamon coming on the clouds of this guy with power and great glory. You see, there was a time when it look like the Anti Messiah was the one who had it all power and fame in Mira. But he will be nothing in comparison, and all the Earth will mourn and he will send forth his Angels and with a great trumpet and they will gather to gather his elect from the 4 winds from the one end of the Sky to the other. Yes, it's going to be terrible. And yes, it's going to be so that even the elect could fall. But he went the Messiah not the end of a style his decree for his end has been set already. I shared with you, a few weeks ago, how I used to would record in football game. And be very nervous as we watched it. Then I decided I didn't like being so nervous. I just kind of started watching the game from where it was. I wouldn't be nearly so nervous. If I knew the game was over and my team won. Is it in matter feed the quarterback threw an interception? Didn't matter how many fumbles happen because my team won? There’s no need to be nervous folks about our spirituality. There's no need to be nervous about our faith, no matter how far it may seem that the Anna Messiah has power and great influence and can decide who lives and who dies he loses. And it's not even a game. And then to show you that I want you to go to revelations chapter 19. Maybe. Starting with verse 11 and I'm gonna read to the end of the chapter and I saw Heaven opened Behold, a white horse and he sat on it is called faithful and true and in righteousness. He judges in wages war notice in righteousness, not empower not in corruption. Business. His eyes are a flame of fire and on his head are many diadems means that he is a ruler and he has a name written on him, which no one knows except himself and he is closed with the robe gripped and blood in his name is called the word of God and the armies, which are in Heaven and clothe and finally. Getting clean were following him on white horses, which means they are the elect they are the righteous ones, coming from heaven. The Anti Messiah may have his army. Messiah has The Army of Heaven.

And from his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it. He may strike down the nations, with just his speech, he destroys nations. 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. King of Kings and Lord of Lord. It may seem that the Anti Messiah can parcel out land. But the Messiah is ruler over everything. Then I saw an Angel standing in the sun and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which flying in Midheaven. Ha ha. This is what Jesus is talking about. Comma symbol for the Great Supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of Kings in the flesh of commanders in the flesh of mighty men in the flesh of horses in of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves and small and great. You see, there will be a battle. The Anti Messiah loses. In a slaughter. So Jesus says there's going to be a preparation for this. The vultures are going to assemble. To clue. And I saw the beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army So what appears and I'm not certain what appears at these armies had assembled to fight the end of Messiah. Only to see Jesus coming and instead of joining forces with Jesus joined forces with the N to Messiah so with the anti. Messi's voice forces and those who are opposed to him gather together still cannot defeat the army of God. And the beast was seized and within the false prophet who perform signs in his presence by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worship his image. These 2 are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire, which burns with Brimstone and the rest were killed with the sword, which came.
Just sat on the horse and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Now I'm not a guy who likes violence per se. To a large extent. The Army of the Anti Messiah deserved. Their destruction. But notice that Jesus comes with an army. It is Army doesn't defeat. Evil forces Jesus. You'll hear a lot of pastors talk about will God Plus. One makes a majority. No God makes them a dork. He doesn't need your help. You just get to be there. To say boy did we beat those guys. What you mean we chemo sabi? Yeah, it but he allows us to be there and notice it at the same thing. The Spirit is one who brings people to repentance pretty allows us to testify. He allows us to be involved, but if his work. It is his ministry. It is his spirit that does these things. So. When you see the Giants. Saying nothing. You see the people who are opposing you ain't nothing. Just a matter of thing. I've read this book. I've seen the end. My God went. But until then. There will be pain and there will be suffering and people will be deceived and people will worship things that aren't and people will worship this end time Messiah and people will take his mark so that they might buy and sell and live life. And those who are God's people will suffer. Because they will not give in to this one. And again so bad. That everything that we think is horrific pales in comparison. And even when it is that bad. God is still in control. And God, has set as far as he can do and no further and next week will take a look to God is even determine how many days he gets to be successful and just as just hang on a few more days. So we're going to sing a song. As a part of our time of reflection. This says bring the rain in primarily the talks about it's OK.

To receive suffering in difficulties? Because I'm still going to praise God for who he is. We may suffer. Because of illness and disease. And we may suffer. Because of our faith. But in both of those are desires should be. Lord may you be glorified. God I don't need to have an easy life. I want to lie to glorify show. And if we are guessing to be in a time of this great tribulation, maybe a time of great glory to our God. Not about my comfort. Thought about my happiness. It's about his victory at his glory. And I tell you what? When my team loses I'm kind of down for a until my team wins so if they lose the last game of the season. It's kind of tough because. You want your team to win. My team wins for eternity it's awesome. I'm on the winning side, not because of what I can do because of what he is, and what he is done so God. We gotta have some interceptions if we gotta have some fumbles bring the rain. As I know you. Will receive glory in it

And all God's People said.