Woodward First Assembly

Revelation-16-The Dragon, The Beast And The False Prophet

Tonight we continue with our midweek study of the book of Revelation. Pastor Brad teaches out of Revelation chapters 12 and 13(NKJV) about The Dragon, The Beast And The False Prophet.

Pastor's Notes:

Good evening everybody!
I hope you are as excited about this lesson tonight as I am. Revelation 12 and 13 are very pivotal chapters in the book. Now are are going to see some symbolism that we will need to interpret in the light of the rest of Scripture.
Last week, we looked at the seven trumpet judgement that will come upon the earth.
Revelation 12 and 13 give us an introduction to three characters: Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.
BACKGROUND
In this passage, John is seeing two specific signs in the heavens.

A woman giving birth to a Son.

A seven headed dragon with ten horns and seven diadems on his heads ready to devour the Child that was given.

It also shows us that Satan is the great enemy of the church and will continue to be until the very end.
He accuses the saints in heaven, and he attacks them here on the church.
It also shows us that Satan continues to use people to do his will, even until the end.

It also shows us how God is victorious in the very end. Let’s dig deep and look at the
APPLICATION1. The Woman (12 vs. 1)
- To interpret this passage correctly, we have to find out who this woman is.
- The Common Interpretations:
The woman is the church (The Bride of Christ). The woman is the Virgin Mary (who gave birth to Jesus). The woman is Israel (the nation).
- I personally believe the women is ISRAEL. Here's why:- These references will verify Israel being compared to a woman:
*Isaiah 54:4-7*Jeremiah 4:31*Micah 4:9-10
NOTICE THE DREAM OF JOSEPH IN GENESIS 37:9-10
Joseph dreamed that the sun, moon and stars bowed down before him. Jacob said, Shall I, your mother and your brethren bow before you? The sun and moon represent Jacob and his wife. The twelve stars represent the twelve sons of Jacob.


The woman is clothed with the sun. (12:1)
The moon is under her feet. (12:1)
A crown of twelve stars surrounds her head. (12:1)
She travailed with child. (12:2)
She brought forth a man child. (12:5)


2. The Son (12 vs. 2)
- Jesus was born out of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Judah, born of a Hebrew woman. Psalms 2:9 prophesied that Christ would rule all nations with a rod of iron.
- The devil tried to kill Christ as soon as He was born. (Matthew 2:16) -Jesus was caught up to the throne of God. (Acts 1:9)- Jesus will rule with a rod of iron. (Revelation 12:5)
3. The Dragon (12 vs. 3, Daniel 7)
- IN REVELATION 12:9 HE HAS FOUR NAMES:
- The Dragon (Prince of the Air)
- The Old Serpent (The Deceiver)
-The Devil (The Accuser)
-Satan (The Adversary)
The Dragon will persecute the remnant of this woman’s seed. These are the Jews who will flee into the wilderness to be protected by God during the final forty-two months of the Tribulation. The remnant will flee to Petra in Jordan. Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:42-45) The prophets speak of this area (Isaiah 16:1-5, Isaiah 26:20-21, Psalms 60:8, 12) Jesus told the Jews to flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-21)
THIS IS A REVELATION OF HOW SATAN CONTROLS THE NATIONS!
The Seven Heads:
The Dragon has seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head.
The seven heads of the dragon are seven chief spirits (prince spirits). 1. Satan has “prince spirits” who rule over nations. (Ephesians 6:12)

2. The word for principalities is translated governments. 3. Satan can put people in high places. (Luke 4:6)
The tenth chapter of Daniel lists two prince spirits that ruled over the nations of Persia and Grecia. They are called the Prince of Persia and the Prince of Grecia. The seven spirits are prince spirits that ruled the previous empires.
THE SEVEN CROWNS:
The seven crowns are the nations (empires) that are mentioned in Bible prophecy:
1. The Egyptian Empire
2. The Assyrian Empire
3. The Babylonian Empire
4. The Media-Persian Empire
5. The Grecian Empire
6. The Roman Empire
7. The New Roman Empire
THE TEN HORNS:
These ten horns are ten kings that will rule with the Antichrist. They are not crowned in Chapter 12 but are crowned in Chapter 13 when the “Beast” Antichrist begins to form the eighth and final world kingdom. These ten horns were also seen by the Prophet Daniel in Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:20, and Daniel 7:24.
And the ten horns out of this kingdom (are) ten kings that shall arise. – Daniel 7:24
REVELATION CHAPTERS 11-13 ARE THE BEGINNING OF THE GREATER PART OF THE TRIBULATION!
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be. – Matthew 24:12
This time of “greater tribulation” is intensified due to the following:

1. The wrath of God is unleashed in the final forty-two months (Revelation 14:8)
2. The wrath of God is mentioned seven times in Revelation:
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand. – Revelation 6:17
3. The wrath of Satan is unleashed, knowing his time is short.
Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows he has but a short time. – Revelation 12:12
Satan is able to come down to earth because the restrainer has been removed. Only after the restrainer is removed can Satan’s power be unleashed in full force. Only when the restrainer is removed can the Antichrist take full control!
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
WHAT RESTRAINS THE ANTICHRIST FROM TAKING FULL CONTROL?
1. The church is a restraining force and is removed in Revelation 4:1-2.2. The two witnesses are a restraining force and are removed in Chapter 11. 3. Michael the archangel is a restraining force and steps aside in Chapter 12.
The church restrains evil from taking over the earth.
The two witnesses restrain the Antichrist from taking over Jerusalem
Michael restrains Satan from taking possession of Israel.
When these three are finally removed, then the Antichrist is revealed. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
A STRONG SPIRIT WILL BE RELEASED TO POSSESS THE ANTICHRIST. AT THIS TIME, THE REMNANT OF JEWS WILL FLEE TO THE WILDERNESS.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.Revelation 12:6
THE WILDERNESS IS IN JORDAN.
1. Jordan (Edom, Moab and Ammon) will escape the Antichrist. (Daniel 11:42)

NOTE: THE CITY OF PETRA
Jesus told the Jews in Matthew 24:15-16 that when they saw the abomination of desolation (which will be the image of the beast—Revelation 13), then they should flee to the mountains.
4. The Beast from the sea (Revelation 13:1-10, Daniel 7)
- The beast is coming up “out of the sea”.
- The beast is a person. Personal pronouns are used when speaking about this beast. The beast will eventually be cast into the lake of fire, along with the false prophet.
He comes up out of the sea; this is symbolic of peoples. (Daniel 7:2-3, Revelation 17:1, 15)This beast refers to the rise of a kingdom, and in particular, the Antichrist (the earthly head of this kingdom). He will be given power by Satan (Dragon) to gain authority, make war and control events.
This “wild beast” is the Antichrist. He has invaded Jerusalem and has a “deadly wound” that has been healed. What is the deadly wound?
The wound to the head could be:
Remember that the heads of the beast represent empires or nations. 1. A literal wound to the physical head in a time of war or battle.2. A wound to one of the nations (heads of the beast) that is healed. 3. A past empire (Babylon) that is now dead but will be revived.
5. The Beast from the earth (13 vs. 11-18)
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. Revelation 13:11
The first beast (antichrist) came up out of the sea. The second beast came up out of the earth.
Daniel never saw this beast. This beast represents a false Christianity. The false prophet may actually claim to be Jesus. Both Jesus and Paul warned of this person.


For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.Matthew 24:24
▪ False christ (false anointed ones) the antichrist▪ False prophets (the false prophet of Revelation 13:11)▪ False miracles (calling fire down and building the image of the beast)
Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
THE FALSE PROPHET
He is identified with the symbol of a lamb. Christ is the Lamb throughout the New Testament. In this reference, this lamb is a false representation of Christ. The lamb also has two horns. These horns represent authority over two branches of religion.
THE FALSE PROPHET
1. This beast is a man. Personal pronouns are used to describe him. 2. This beast leads a global religion from Jerusalem.3. This beast will be the spiritual head of two major religious forces.
The antichrist is a military power; this beast, however, is a spiritual power.▪ Who can make war with the beast? (This is military power.)▪ And they worship the beast. (This is spiritual power.)
THE COMING FALSE PROPHET

He will move the world religion headquarters to Jerusalem.(Rome will be burned.)
He will produce false miracles, such as calling fire down from heaven.
He must deny the divinity of Christ or claim himself to be the Christ.
He will cause men to worship the beast. Revelation 13:11-18.

The false prophet (Revelation 13:11-18) will cause men to worship the beast, the image of the beast, and receive the mark of the beast.
CONCLUSION

Anchored 1 - Anchored By Grace

It's the first Sunday of the new year and Pastor Brad is starting a new series titled "Anchored." This morning he talks to us about being Anchored by Grace. The text for this morning is found in Ephesians 2:1-9 (MKJV)

Pastor's Notes:

Ephesians 2:1-9 NKJV
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
I don’t know about you, but I feel good today. The stress of the holidays are gone, goals are set, and we are looking forward to the future to new and better things.
As I was praying last month and seeking the Lord on what I might share, the Holy Spirit showed me a picture of an anchor.
An anchor is something heavy that is used to stabilize an object from moving off course.
For instance, a boat might throw an anchor to stay in a specific spot.
I wanted to share of the next three weeks some spiritual anchors that have helped me stay the course in my walk with God, and also will help us as a church as we go forward into the future.
Today, I’d like to share with you about the anchor of grace.
God’s grace is very amazing!
ILLUSTRATION
I remember once particular day, I was walking with my son Adam through a parking lot of a store. Cars were everywhere and it was almost as if people were driving without paying any attention.
Being afraid of the traffic, Adam clenched my hand tightly, and he felt so secure doing so. He felt safe having a hold on his father’s hand!
What he didn’t realize is that while he had a very tight grip on me, I actually had a tighter grip on him!
TRANSITION
I believe that is a great picture of our walk with God. We are clenched tightly to Him as we walk through life, but yet He also has a much tighter grip on us.
It can be said like this:
“Faith is my grip on God, but grace is God’s grip on me!”
Now, I know that many of us haven't been taught a lot about grace. I know I wasn’t.
I grew up in a super strict church, and I thank God for it! I cant stomach preachers who teach greasy grace. You know, the type of people who say stuff like, “If you are saved, you really can live however you want. Sin doesn't matter anymore.”
Nothing could be further than the truth!
If anyone ever tells you that sin isn't a big deal, you better run from that quickly!
Look what Titus tell us about grace:
Titus 2:11-14 NKJV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
True grace is not just unmerited favor, but it’s also divine empowerment.
Grace helps you overcome sin, not enables you to live in it!
But that’s not something I heard coming up.
TRANSITION
As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I got saved every week.
Now, before you go getting all mad at me, I understand fully that a person can backslide. I understand that a person can reject grace. I know a person can be saved, and yet they can turn back.
The Scriptures warn us against such things.
Yet, growing up, my view of God was lacking grace.
He was going to get me. As a matter of fact, He was most likely waiting on me to mess up.
I was only taught one aspect, and I had a wrong view of the fear of the Lord.
But I’ve come to realize something about Jesus, and John tells us:
John 1:17 (NKJV)
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
So what is grace?
The word “grace” is the Greek work Charis, and it means “favor, divine influence upon the heart, a gift, unmerited.”
BACKGROUND
In our passage, the Apostle Paul is dealing with different religious cultures in Ephesus, which required the follower to offer sacrifice to gain acceptance, or to trust in deeds to make right with their god.
Paul is hitting this fallacy straight on, because we cannot work to earn God’s favor or grace.
Look at what Paul teaches us in Ephesians about the grace of God.
APPLICATION

Sin separated us (vs.1-3)

- We were dead. Why? Blame Adam!
- Trespasses and sin overtook us. That’s what sin does.
- We were walking according to the world.
- We acted out the lusts of our flesh.
- We were deserving of judgement. God must judge sin!
2.    Love sought us (vs. 4-7)
- Mercy is what we don’t deserve.
- God loved us. 1 John 4:19 NKJV
- God loves us before we could clean ourselves up. Romans 5:8 (On the screen).
- Love motivated Jesus to go to the cross.

3.   Grace saved us (vs. 8-9)
- It was unmerited favor.
- It is a gift.
- We can’t boast in it.
- It was not our goodness.
- Isaiah 64:6 NKJV
- Romans 10:1-3 NKJV (on screen)

4. Faith connected us. (vs.8-9)
- Jesus did the work.
- Our faith is what connects us to it.

CONCLUSION
Romans 5:12-21 NKJV
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the [a]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many [b]offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s [c]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through [d]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[e] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation-15-The 7 Trumpets

It is the first Wednesday on the new year and we continue with our midweek study of Revelations.

Pastors Notes:

The Seven Trumpets


TEXT

REV 8-11(NKJV)


Good evening, everybody!
I pray you’ve enjoyed your holiday break (if you were able to get one). Tonight, we are going to look at some major events that happen during the Tribulation period.
As in weeks past, we’ve looked at the opening of the seven sealed book, tonight, we will look at the blasts of the seven trumpets.
Depending on how much time allows, we will do our best to get through all of these. If not, we will finish them in the next week.
Below is a summarized reference point for the seven trumpets:
APPLICATION
1. The First Trumpet (Rev 8:6-7) - Hail, fire, and blood
- This is something coming from the heavens.
2. The Second Trumpet (Rev. 8:8-9) - A great burning mountain
- The mountain could be a volcanic eruption
- The results cause the water to become acidic
- For the ships and sea creatures to be destroyed
- Jesus said in Luke 21:26 “the sea and waves roaring...”








3. The Third Trumpet (Rev. 8:10-11) - A star fell from heaven
- The Greek word is aster, where we get the word asteroid.
- The rivers and streams were bitter.
- Luke 21:26 and Mark 13:25 predict stars would fall during the tribulation period.
4. The Fourth Trumpet (Rev. 8:12)- A third of the sun, moon, and stars are darkened
-Joel said it. Joel 2:21- Isaiah said it. Isaiah 13:10
*This could happen through various nuclear and chemical explosions.
5. The Fifth Trumpet (Rev. 9:1-12) - A star falls from heaven to earth and opens the abyss.
- It’s the beginning of three “woes”.
- The word for star in this particular passage is “angel”, for one a spiritual being would have a key to the abyss.
- What is the abyss? The abyss is one of the many underground compartments beneath the earth. It means limitless or immeasurable.
- Smoke comes up.
- There are demons bound there since creation.
- Locust like demons are released. They are not normal.
- They cannot harm trees, grass, plants, green things, or those sealed with the seal of God
- Heads like crowns of gold.








- Hair like a womans.
- Teeth like a lion.
- Breastplates like iron.
- Noise like a chariot.
- Tail like a scorpion.
- Their king is Abaddon.
6. The Sixth Trumpet (Rev. 9:13-21) - Four angels loosed from the Euphrates
- They are bound.
- They have a ministry of death.
- They kill 1/3 of all living people.
- Their method was fire and brimstone which came from their mouths.
- Men still would not repent.
7. The Gap (Rev. 10:1-11)
- We see the angel with the little book. - Many believe it to be Christ.- The book is eaten.
8. The Seventh Seal (Rev. 11:15-19) - The announcement
- There is an announcement of the coming kingdom!
- The time of the Judgement seat of Christ is here (Rev. 11:18) - We see the witnesses killed. and resurrected.
- We are beginning the second half of the tribulation.




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Is Your Faith Bigger Than Your But?

Tonight Pastor Seth Cash brings us the word. As he does he challenges us to exercise our faith. He calls this message Is Your Faith Bigger Than Your But? His text for this message is found in Mathew 14:28-33.(NKJV)

Reset

Christmas is over and as we look toward the next year, Pastor Brad teaches us how to Reset our spiritual man. Text for this morning is found in Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Unto Us-5-The Prince Of Peace

This morning Pastor Brad finishes his Unto Us series.  This Christmas season we are reminded that He is The Prince Of Peace. Text for this series has been Isaiah 9:6(NKJV)

Recorded on December 23, 2018.

There was no evening service.

Revelation-14- The Sixth Seal

Originally recorded on Wednesday the 19 of December, Pastor Brad continues the study of Revelation. The text he started with is Revelation chapter six.

Unto Us-4-Ever Lasting Father

Recorded Sunday Evening on 16 Dec 18, Pastor Brad continues his December series Unto Us. In Isaiah 9:6(NKV) we learn that he is a Everlasting Father.

Unto Us-3-Mighty God

Recorded Sunday morning on 16 Dec 18, Pastor Brad continues his December series Unto Us. In Isaiah 9:6(NKJV) we learn that he is a Mighty God.

Revelation-13-The Four Horsemen

Tonight Pastor Brad continues the midweek bible study on the book of Revelation. Last week we studied the first horseman and tonight we study the other three. The text for tonight is found in Revelation 6:1-8 (NKJV).