The Sovereignty of God #3

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Our focus is on the sovereignty of God over the affairs of man. God does not cause evil, but because of free will, man willingly and deliberately commits evil, for which there are both corporal and eternal consequences. Again, the only way to eliminate evil, is for God to eliminate the root cause of sin, people, which He did once before in the Noahic flood (Genesis 6-8). Something He proclaimed He would not do again and gave us the rainbow as a sign of that pledge (Gen. 9:16). 

Everything was and is carefully planned and decreed by God, even the flood was a mix of God’s wrath and future blessings for mankind. Genesis tells us that God’s tolerance and forbearance of a corrupt and violent world ran out, and just at the right time, the flood came and the one family He chose to spare. God’s reasons for the flood could probably fill a volume. 

Even in His wrath against a corrupt and violent people, the result was a blessing for distant future generations. Here’s a brief look at a couple of big ones: dinosaurs roomed the earth and were buried by the flood, becoming today’s fossil fuels needed for energy in a civilized society. Coal also. Nothing is a random occurrence with God; everything has a purpose as He decrees. 

I think fossil fuels are evidence of the global flood in Genesis. It’s also evident that there are intended blessings, even when God unleashes His wrath for man’s corruption and ungodliness. 

Coal also provides evidence of the biblical flood, and even a glimpse of what much of the earth may have looked like before the food—wetlands and tropical forests. How many generations from Adam did it take for man to reach total corruption and violence sufficient to incur God’s wrath? Some biblical scholars believe that just ten generations spanned the 1656 years between the day God made Adam and the day Noah entered the ark and the flood.

Ages are based on Genesis 5. Noah lived 950 years and was 600 years old at the time of the flood. Mankind’s lifespan dropped after the flood, to about 120 years. 

Gen 7:6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.  (NIV)

We can take comfort in knowing that God is sovereign. The Holy Spirit is our refuge, and prayer is our lifeline to God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord will accomplish His purposes in all things, even the Covid-19 pandemic, and yes, even today’s political climate—for reasons, only He knows. The basic message is that sin has after-effects, and a corrupt world, even individual nations, will reap the consequences of their actions. 

We live in uncertain times with the Covid-19 pandemic and political uncertainty. A pastor made a comment on his radio show—recorded about 8 months ago—when he described Covid-19, as being “just life”, something the world has gone through before and will go through again. Hmmm. Let me put my Sherlock Holmes’ hat on by looking at the big picture, at everything happening now verses 8 months ago. What’s happening is quite different in many regards than “just life”. I believe the Covid-19 pandemic is the root cause of much of it, including restrictions on worship which never occurred before in American history, even opening the door for voter fraud with ballot distribution and counting, but that’s another story. 

Rom 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  (NIV)

If we don’t learn from history, we are bound to repeat its mistakes. What influence did Christians have on their respective culture? All of history, yesterday, today and tomorrow is laid out before God. Nothing is a surprise. Everything is laid out before Him in ”real time”. Even the rise and fall of empires throughout history are as He decreed. Life is not a puppet show with God pulling the strings. Nor is He just an observer and bystander, as deist believed. They saw a Creator that does not intervene in the universe; which certainly is not the God of the Bible. So, are today’s events “just life”? Yes, there were pandemics before, but none of them involved a lockdown of churches, shutdown of the entire economy, and seclusion of an entire nation of people; all of which delights Satan very much. 

January 18th-20th 2021, between 25,000 to 26,000 National Guard troops from several states occupied the Nation’s Capitol for inauguration security. Who were the suspected domestic-terrorists? American citizens who supported and voted for Donald J. Trump as president. 

On Monday, January 18, 2021, Virginia National Guard soldiers were issued M4 rifles and live ammunition on the east front of the US Capitol. In addition to the military, there were federal officers, secret service and D.C. police. There were more troops in D.C. for the inauguration than protected Washington D.C. during the Civil War. The National Guard soldiers were trained/instructed to screen their colleagues to identify potential threats from within their ranks to then President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. 

After watching hours of coverage and TV comments on different channels, let me interpret what was being said. Anybody in D.C. who voted for Trump is a suspected domestic-terrorist; and can be identified by their political party registration. Just like the Jews wore a star of David in Nazi Germany. Is it evil? Yes, and exactly the path for the Antichrist’s rise to power, which, as I see it, goes way beyond “just life”. Satan can't designate a particular moment for the Antichrist, without God's permission, but he’s certainly looking for the right opportunity to empower one of his own followers as THE Antichrist. As stated in 1 John 2:18 there are many antichrists, one of whom will be empowered by Satan to be THE Antichrist. What else is needed for that to occur? Is God opening the door for evangelism? I think so. 

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

Here’s one of the reasons for my previous comments: Don Lemon’s statement on CNN. He isn’t the only one condemning Trump voters. You vote their way or you’re in trouble, both politically and culturally. I have followed politics closely ever since the early 60s, with the assassination of John F. Kennedy, who I voted for. Even President Trump can’t just leave town without a barrage of insults and threats, even from certain members of Congress and the media. They are doing everything possible to destroy him even another impeachment attempt. They have called Trump voters part of a cult and are advocating reprograming of Trump voters. When all of this comes together, I fail to see it as “just life”. Does this sound like the America you grew up in? Will God intervene and rescue us as a Nation and as a people? He is sovereign and could do so, but will He? 

Taken in 2007 at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, celebrating my inauguration as President of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities. Having served in the U.S. Army, and as a Mayor and City Council member, yes, politics runs deep. Why? Because I love America and not only embraced, but strongly believed in the words “One Nation Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, added in 1954 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former commander of the Allied forces in Europe in WWII that defeated the Nazis. Why do I feel so strongly about it? Because politics can change the course of a nation, just as the Nazis gained political power that changed the course of Germany, and the Communist changed the course of Russia and Cuba, and many more. It is not something “out there”. It is something very much “in here”. 

“God in schools” was declared unconstitutional by a 1962 Supreme Court decision. Where then do our children get their values? They don’t, unless their family attends church. Sixty years later we are reaping the consequences of that decision. If we, the Church don’t bring God back to America, who will? Nobody. And our path away from God will only accelerate.  

In a troubled world, a sovereign God is our only hope. As stated by Charles Spurgeon, there’s comfort and reassurance in knowing that God is sovereign, and that we are not alone in our trials and tribulations. Think back over your life, when God was there for you. He hasn’t left. 

The sovereignty and power of God is not all gloom and doom. He blessed Israel when it remained faithful. The O.T. isn’t just a history of Israel, it’s also a lesson for us on how to live faithful and obedient to God. 

Christianity is more than a religion. It’s a relationship with a holy and awesome God. We are not alone, just as the early church wasn’t alone. Our relationship with God, in Christ Jesus, is empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.  (NIV)

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  (NIV)

Our understanding of God’s sovereignty is generally too small. The next slides explain. 

One way of putting the sovereignty of God in perspective is this photo from outer space. He not only created everything but sustains everything, including the entire universe, the size and position of each and every star. The arrow points to the solar system and world situated within the Milky Way galaxy. It’s only one galaxy within billions that are spread across the expanse of the universe. NASA estimates that there are potentially 500 billion milky ways in the universe, each consisting of 100 – 400 billion stars. 

The universe is the physical side of God’s creation. There is also a spiritual side that is invisible to us, which God is also sovereign over, and just as real as everything we can see and touch. That spiritual side includes heaven and angels, and sadly, even Satan and the demons who rebelled. Why didn’t God prevent them from rebelling? If He prevented them from sinning, their love would have been contrived and not free as it was with the 2/3 of angels that stayed true to God. 

The Book of Revelation lays out all the events of the seven year Tribulation, revealing God’s sovereignty over the affairs of sinful man, over Satan, his fallen angels, the Antichrist and False Prophet, who will be cast into hell-the fiery lake of burning sulfur… So, the story does have a happy ending.

Rev 19:20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (NIV)

We looked at the Tribulation before in a previous 2020 study, lesson #6 dated 07/05-07/12. As shown it lays out the End Times and Tribulation. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ returns in glory, and Satan is bound for the 1,000-year Millennium (Rev. 20:2)

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (NIV)

Satan and the Antichrist will wreak havoc and chaos on the world during the Tribulation.  At the end of the Tribulation, Satan will be cast into the abyss. Raising the question, where is the abyss? Is it in the core of the earth? Is it fixated somewhere else in the universe? Scripture doesn’t tell us, but some—like me—can’t just let it lie without trying to sort it out. 

Rev 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.  (NIV)

There are a few hints regarding where the abyss may be. Just enough to pique my interest. Rev. 9:2 may give us more than just a hint. The abyss is “opened,” and “smoke rose from it, like a giant furnace, enough to darken the sky.” So, my best guess is it's deep within the earth, since the earth has a molten core. As noted, the word “abyss” is translated from a Greek word meaning “bottomless pit”, which I find hard to associate with someplace in space. 

Rev 9:2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. (NIV)

We rarely think of what the earth looks like in its interior. We think in terms of oceans, mountains, green grass, trees and birds chirping, This cross section of the earth, shows its fiery center core.  The planet Mercury has a similar molten core, which may give cause to wonder, if Satan was exiled to another planet. Possible? Except that scripture tells us he was cast down to earth when driven out of heaven; nor is there any indication elsewhere in the Bible that he was later exiled to outer space or any other planet or star. It states clearly that he was cast down to the earth when thrown out of heaven (Rev. 12:9).

Rev 12:9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.  (NIV)

Do volcanos provide an example of the abyss described in Rev. 20:3? If I had to venture a guess, I think its highly probable, including smoke like from a fiery furnace (Rev. 9:2). 

Rev 20:3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.  (NIV)

What some envision, without the fiery part, that the entrance to the abyss may look like—a deep bottomless hole. But I don’t see how you could cover it over (Rev. 3). We know volcanos can and do get covered over—Mount St. Helens for example—yet the entrance to their core remains undisturbed. It would not be possible to seal or cover over a bottomless pit like this—everything would fall into it and not cover it. 

Rev 20:3a He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him….. (NIV)

The best example I could find regarding what I envision the abyss described in Revelation 9:2 could look like. A volcano’s larva originates within the earth’s fiery core. 

We can apply our imagination to what the abyss may look like, but I think this may be a fair representation of Satan bound and chained in the abyss. We can be certain, he never imagined what faith lay ahead for him when he rebelled against God (Rev. 12:7), actually believing he could overthrow God. Everything leads me to believe that heaven itself was created for the angels, as earth was created for man. At the very end God creates a new heaven and new earth for all His faithful, both angels and man. We can only imagine what it will look like (Rev. 21:1)

Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.  (NIV)

Satan isn’t out of the game just yet. Revelation 20:7-9 tells us that being released from the abyss, Satan leads mankind’s final revolt against God. If angels in heaven can revolt, man certainly can. Imagine millennial-mankind, under Satan’s leadership, revolting against Jesus’ kingdom in Jerusalem. The enemy armies are called Gog and Magog (v.8), which we will look at next week. Everything about Satan embodies hatred, rebellion and destruction. It reminds me of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Before committing suicide, Hitler’s last orders to his commanders, was to totally destroy all of Germany’s infrastructure to punish the German people for failing him. Fortunately for the German people, those orders were only carried out in a limited way and ignored by most. 

Rev 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  (NIV)

Dr. John MacArthur’s 1 hour sermon on “The Inescapable Corruption of Sin”. MacArthur’s sermons are hard hitting against a world of sin. But something every Christian needs to be aware of just as when the Apostle Paul preached—it wasn’t a prosperity gospel. Today’s church is dozing when it should be preparing for spiritual warfare. The purpose of the Church isn’t to share Jesus for people to be happy, healthy, and have material success, but to repent of their sins in order to be saved from an eternal separation from God and an eternity in hell. In spite of all the evil in the world, the Lord Jesus wins the final battle as we are told in Revelation. 

https://youtu.be/5YYVAdVpWvc

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Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently expressed a concern that America is more stressful and divided now than at any time going back to the pre-Civil War period. Pray for America, that we may not abandon the biblical values this nation was built on. That evil may be restrained and not fully let loose. Pray for our church, our pastor and for sharing the Gospel with a world sorely in need of God’s Word.

End of the Sovereignty of God #3