Champion of Love

The
Champion
of Love

Turn to: Rev.17Ladies & Gentlemen

(Slide) Know very well: all in midst of GC.
o Cosmic conflict between all hosts of good & evil.
o 6,000 yrs this war been raging on battlefield of earth.

We know: God is victor of GC in battlefield of world.

Question is: Will He win victory over Satan as GC is fought in
battlefield of minds? Not only personal but universal!

Lets read about the climax of GC

Rev.17:12Final confederation at the end!

Political powers wont unite in one government! (Dan.2)

v.13But: One mindSame page in goals & ideology.
o These will unite with beast/papal power.
o Unity sounds good in a world of conflict & separation!

What is their real agenda? What will they end up doing?
o v.14Making war with the Lamb.
How?
o Push Mark of Beast in form of National Sunday law

Satans last attempt in long standing controversy!

But who will win?The Lamb & His associates! (Laker Fans)

(Slide) Victory not just by corporate association but

individual assimilation! In fact this is only way God saves!
Ezekiel 14:14

Ezk.14:14Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they
should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

God saves people one by one!

Noah, Daniel, Job: symbols of Gods end time people! How?
o NoahGave message of judgment & invitation of mercy.
o DanielGod is my Judge Laodicea: People being Judged
o Job(Well come back to this.)

Each had: personal battles to fight & personal victories to win!

(Slide) Main point: War between good & evil is so intimate

that its not only a corporate war, its a personal fight!
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Champion of Love
work out your
own salvation with
fear and trembling.

Phi.2:12We have an individual souls to save!

(Slide) 1Tim.6:12This is a fight of faith!

(Slide) 2Tim.4:7-8 Salvation likened to a fighting match!

Philippians 2:12

Well see: GC fight has only 3 rounds.

Submit: We are in final round of boxing match called GC!
In this last round, Satan is preparing knockout punch!

This will be a fatal blow. Who will endure it?

(Slide) None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths
of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.GC 593
o Fortified: Place of protection.
o Amature boxing: Fighters required to wear headgear.
o (Slide) Fortified mind in GC requires head protection.

Tell me: What does God place in forehead of believers that

gets them through the last crisis?Seal!
Today well see what it requires to get that seal.
We must first
understand what
happened in the
first 2 rounds, in
order to endure
the final blow in
the 3rd round.

Revelation 12

But we must first understand what happened in the first 2

rounds, in order to endure the last blow in the final round!
So today well look at history & future of fight & discover
how we can be last ones standing!
Lets take a look at what happened in 1st round
Turn to: Rev.12:7-9War in heaven! We read in other places

Satan became dissatisfied with his privileged position.

Coveted Gods power but not character! Self-exaltation!

Satan is knocked down but not out.

Why not a complete KO in round 1?

Champion of Love
Other angels, not discerning nature of sin, wouldnt
been able to understand justness in its punishment!

Must give sin time to mature that all might see true nature.

(Slide) Satan cast down to earth on probationary time.
o (Slide) Round 2 beginsIn garden of Eden.
o Spoke lies to man about character of God!
o In causing man to sin, Satan knocked out human race!

(Slide) Dominion given to Satan.

We were down & out, Satan knocked wind of HS out of us.

But God comes and resuscitates us by giving the first

prophetic promise of Hope
I will put enmity
between you and
the woman,
between your seed
and her Seed;
Seed; He
shall bruise your
head, and you shall
bruise His heel.

Genesis 3:15

Gen.3:15Seed would come to knock devil out!

Satan delivered deadly blow to human race.

Jesus would come to deliver a deadly blow to Satan!
o A promise for His children & a threat to Satan.
o God was saying: Im gonna knock you out!

Though this threat was given, Satan was still defiant.

Still he held this world in captivity & claimed to be victor!

We see this illustrated in book of Job

Job 1:6A heavenly counsel is called & Satan appears.
Job 1:6-11

Though hes cast out of Heaven, he still had access to

heavens/realms of illimitable space!
o Prince of the power of the air.Eph.2:2
o Spiritual wickedness in high/heavenly places.Eph.6:12

He would come to gates of city taunting heavenly angels &
accusing God & us before God day & night.

Champion of Love
In accusing
Job, Satan is
essentially
accusing God
and attacking
Gods
character
before the
universe.

Satan shows up in this heavenly counsel

v.7Satan boastfully claims dominion & authority.

v.8God responds: Have you considered Job?
o You dont have complete dominion!
o There is one that is resisting your supremacy!
o Can God say this of you?

v.9-11Satan accuses: Hes serving you from selfish reasons!

(Click) In accusing Job, Satan is essentially accusing God

& attacking Gods character before universe
Satan
claimed that
Love was
impossible!

You claim to have a government based on love.

There is no such thing! Love is impossible!

Job serves you because you bless Him.
o Doesnt want you, all he wants is your blessings!
o Your government is based on coercion & selfish gain!

Take away blessings & Job will do exactly what we did!

Satans claim: No such thing as unselfish love!

In response, God allows Satan to test Job

Job loses everything all at once!
Jobs first impulse is to bow
down and worship God!

Notice how Job response when every earthly thing is stripped

v.20-22His first impulse is to worship & praise God!

Through tribulation, Job held on & endured to end

Job 13:15

Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in Him

Job 13:15Though He slays me yet will I trust Him!

Turn to: Job 23:8-12Time of trouble experience!
o Job did not see or feel God.
o His hope rested completely on faith!
o By faith in Gods word He overcame! Victory by faith!

This sounds like a Calvary & Gethsemane experience.

How was this possible?Mind fortified! Good headgear on!
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Champion of Love
Jobs
experience
is a
microcosm
of what will
take place
in the last
days.

This is a microcosm of what will take place in 3rd round!

o Satan will strip us of possessionsCannot buy of sell.
o FamilyFoes will be they of own household.
o BodyDeath decree!

Gods people will overcome & endure until end!

There will be many who will not be shaken/knocked out!

How many of you plan on experiencing the victory?

But we can only overcome in round 3 when we understand

& accept what happened in round 2
Satan claims
that love is
impossible
even for God.

Satan claims: unselfish love is impossible even for God!

So what happens next in round 2?
Christ leaves home town & enters arena of planet earth.

(Slide) Clothes his divinity in our humanity.
o Came to refute Satans claims & accusations himself!

Elementary School Illustration: To stop a bully, the weaker
kid would threaten to call his older brother!

Satan was bullying us around & now our Elder Brother

comes to the rescue
He is not
ashamed
to call us
brethren.
brethren.
Hebrews 2:11

Heb.2:11Unashamed to be our Brother!

We are no match for the devil, but hes no match for Jesus!

Jesus comes & knocks down the devil 2nd time...

Lets read it in prophecy

Champion of Love
Turn to: Rev.12:10Cast down the 2nd time!
Revelation 12:1012:10-11

From where and when was the accuser cast down?

When did salvation & strength come?
o (Slide) Rom.5:6Christ died to give us strength!
o (Slide) Jn.12:31-33The event of cross cast Satan down!

As Christ goes up, Satan goes down!

This event was the fulfillment of 1st gospel promise

The Seed came & cracked the Devil in his head!

Where did Jesus die?
o (Slide) GolgothaThe place of the skull
o CalvaryCranium; the part enclosed the brain.
o This is where cross was placed!
o Jesus dies: Rocks were rent!
o Symbol of the rending of Satans kingdom!

Ivor: This act of love blew the devils mind!
o It also blew the minds of the unfallen universe!

Understand CROSS: breaks hard heads & stubborn minds!
o Only the cross can break the carnal mind!
o v.11Thats why we overcome by the blood!

It is the cross that fortifies mind against Satans attacks!

Seal of Love: Implanting of unselfish love of cross in mind!

Cross: blow to Satans philosophy & he was knocked down!

From where was he cast down?

Round #1

Round #1From Heaven

Round #2

Round #2From the heavens (space).

v.12Rejoice ye heavens, & ye that dwell in them.
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Champion of Love
By shedding the blood of the Son of
God, Satan had uprooted himself from
the sympathies of the heavenly beings.
Henceforth his work was restricted.
restricted.
Whatever attitude he
might assume, he
could no longer
await the angels
as they came from
the heavenly courts
and before them accuse Christs
brethren of being clothed with the
garments of blackness and the
defilement of sin. The
last link of sympathy
between Satan and
the heavenly world
was broken.
broken.
Desire of Ages p.761

By shedding the blood of the Son of God, Satan had uprooted himself from the
sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever
attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the
heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christs brethren of being clothed with the
garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between
Satan and the heavenly world was broken.DA 761

(Slide) Thus: Satan is cast out of the heavens.

o He is strictly restricted to planet earth!
o Satan knocked down twice by Christ.

Christ beat Satan in heaven & upon earth!

Notice how Satan responded

Revelation
12:1212:12-13

Rev.12:12Now he knows his days are numbered!

v.13, 17 Wants to take all with him to destruction.

(Slide) Unable to touch Christ, now fights bride of Christ.

To hurt Christ he seeks to hurt the beloved of Christ! Why?

If you lose 9 rounds of a 10 round boxing match

What will your trainer/coach say to you?
o What is the only chance you have to win?KO!

Satan lost in first 2 rounds. We are in 3rd & final round!

His only chance to win is to knock us out!
Notice
He numbers the world as his
subjects; but the little company who
keep the commandments of
God are resisting his
supremacy. If he could
blot them from the
earth,
earth, his triumph
would be complete.
The Great Controversy p.618

He numbers the world as his subjects; but the little company (Like Job)
who keep the commandments of God are resisting his supremacy. If he
could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete.GC 618

What shall I say to arouse the remnant

people of God? I was shown that
dreadful scenes are before us; Satan and
his angels are bringing all their powers
to bear upon Gods people. He knows
that if they sleep a little
longer he is sure of them,
them, for
their destruction is certain.

What shall I say to arouse the remnant people of God? I was shown that
dreadful scenes are before us; Satan and his angels are bringing all their
powers to bear upon Gods people. He knows that if they sleep a little
longer he is sure of them, for their destruction is certain.1T 263

1 Testimonies p.263

Champion of Love
What is the
final blow that
Satan is
preparing to
give to Gods
people?

2 Slides

What is the final blow/test for the people of God?

Context answers this question
o War in v.17 is expounded upon in chapter 13.

(Slide) Read: Rev.13:14-17
Notice what God does
o 14:9-14Mark of Beast is final test & strongest warning!
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially
controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of
distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him
not While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive
the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine
authority, receive the seal of God.GC 605

Why is Sabbath the final & greatest test?

What is the Sabbath a sign or
memorial of?

What is the Sabbath a sign or memorial of?

Memorial of Gods completed work of creation!

Sabbath: outward sign of inward seal of Gods sanctification!

A sign of complete sanctification by Holy Spirit! Full victory!

More than the day, but the experience the day represents!

What is Sunday a sign of?

What is Sunday a sign of?

Sabbath:
Sign of Gods rest

Sunday = Work or creation began but wasnt completed!

o Individuals who have a surface experience with God.
o Symbol of salvation by works of man!

This is Mark of Beast of which Sunday is a sign of!

This is why this will be the final test! No victory!

Sabbath: Gods Rest

Sunday: Mans works

Seal of God:
Salvation by Grace
Sunday:
Sign of mans work
Mark of Beast:
Salvation by works

Seal: Grace
Mark: Works
What happens to those who refuse the Mark?
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Champion of Love
2 Slides

As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy

throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities
have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the
persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular
demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be
urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the
church and a law of the state ought not to be tolerated; that it is
better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into
confusion and lawlessness.GC 615

Motive: Why Sunday?Bring country back to God.

As natural disasters, moral decay, war, increases
o Gods people will be looked upon as terrorists!
o Just as religious leaders united with political powers to
crucify Jesus, the same will happen to Gods people!

(Slide) Better that one die that the whole nation perish not!

History is about to be repeated!

How can we stand against this final blow?
The only way to resist the Mark is to receive the Seal!
Who will
receive the
Seal of the
Living God?

Many worry about the Mark to the neglect of the Seal!

Who will receive the seal of God in forehead?

(3 Slides) Those who receive the seal of the living God and are
protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. I
saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were
looking to the time of "refreshing" and the "latter rain" to fit them to
stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I
saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the
needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing
I saw that none could share the "refreshing" unless they obtain the
victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the
world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore,
be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking
that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the
day of the Lord.EW 71

How do we receive the Seal?

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Champion of Love
Just as soon as the people of God are
sealed in their foreheadsforeheads--it is not any
seal or mark that can be seen, but a
settling into the truth,
truth, both intellectually
and spiritually,
spiritually, so they cannot be moved.
moved.
Just as soon as Gods people are sealed
and prepared for the
shaking, it will come.
The Faith I Live By p.287

Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any
seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually
and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as soon as Gods people are
sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come.FLB 287

Will there be any left standing?YES!

How do we receive the seal?
2 Slides

The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith

that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger--a faith that will not
faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to
all to prepare for that timeThose who are unwilling to deny
self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His
blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God--how few know
what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after
God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch.
When waves of despair which no language can express sweep
over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the
promises of God.GC 621 FEW!

Good news: God will have a people who will endure the
final round! Notice how theyre described
Revelation 14:12

Here is
the patience of
the saints: here
are they
that keep the
commandments
of God, and the
faith of Jesus.
Jesus.

Rev.14:12Endure by Faith of Jesus!

In contrast to those who get knocked out in v.9-11

Here are those who stand & endure!

What happens when we have the faith of Jesus?

For whatsoever is
born of God
overcomes the
world: and this is
the victory that
overcomes the
world, even our
faith.
faith.
1 John 5:4

1Jn.5:4Faith is the Victory!

Faith in  victory in Faith of  Victory of

Having His faith, results in having His victory!

His victory in round 2, becomes our victory in round 3!

What was His victory?

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Champion of Love
In GethsemaneJesus was being crushed!

As He clung to cold ground, drops of blood on brow.

He felt like tapping out. He was down for the count.

He was taking a beating from devil.

Those in His corner were sleeping on Him

He longed for a word of encouragement.

Someone to wipe the blood from His brow.

Someone to tent to His emotional wounds.

Just before this

Satan hath desired to have you, that he
may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed
for thee, that thy faith fail not:
not: and when
thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.

Prayed that Peter wouldnt get knocked out.

Looking in his corner, Peter knocked out with indifference.

Peter is sleeping instead of praying! Took off headgear!!

Luke 22:3122:31-32

He sleeps while Jesus prays: Thy will be done!

Though He was knocked down, but not out.

He got back up & took our beating till the very end!

He got back up only to

Face the false accusations & hatred of Sanhedrin.

(Slide) Be crowed as criminal of death.

(Slide) To hear, instead of cheers, the taunts: Crucify Him!
(Slide) To carry the heavy cross up Calvary
(Slide) To raise His hands, not in triumph, but for the nails
(Slide) To be raised, not on shoulders, but on a cross.
(Slide) Despite the taunts of the spectating crowd
(Slide) Father forgive themIt is Finished

As Satan was bruising His heel, He was crushing his head!

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Champion of Love
This seeming defeat was His victory!

Through death, He destroyed he who had power over death!

Jesus knocked Satan down in round 2.

But in the final round, Jesus in His people, will knock the
devil out completely! Notice
And the God of
peace shall bruise
Satan under your
feet shortly. The
grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with
you. Amen.
Romans 16:20

Rom.16:20By Grace alone!

(Slide) There will be a knock out in 3rd round!
o Satans accusations will be refuted.
o Universe will see that love is possible!
o A people like Job: Serving God because of God!

After that final knockout
o (Slide) Because we received the seal of love, we can
now receive crown of life!

Before the crown of life, accept the cross of death

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ lives in me:
me:
and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by
the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.

Gal.2:20Die, that Christ might live!

Let your faith in Jesus become the faith of Jesus!

How many today want not only the victory in Jesus, but
the victory of Jesus to be yours?
You want to stand firm during the final blow?
How many want Jesus to knock Satan out in you,
through you, and for you in last days?
In this GC, if the devil knocks you down, make sure he
doesnt knock you out. Get back up & keep fighting!
Victory is assured as long as we keep getting up!

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