We have been looking at Revelation 12 and we’ve talked about the signs in the heaven that John sees: the sign of the woman who represents the nation of Israel; the Child who represents Christ; and the sign of the dragon who is the devil. We talked last week about a war in heaven. Michael and the angels take on the devil and his dark angels and the result is that the devil is cast down to the earth.

 

Revelation 12:9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

It says the devil will keep on deceiving even though he's cast down - he's down but not yet out. He deceives the whole world - the dragon will empower the Antichrist to deceive the nations - he will have free reign to do as he pleases for three and a half years.

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So, during this time, this 3 1/2-year mark in the middle of the tribulation, where the Antichrist has been released to carry out his hell on earth, many multitudes of people will be in the valley of decision. Paul speaks of this time in 2 Thessalonians 2.

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2 Thessalonians 2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

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People will be fooled by the deception of the antichrist - they will be drawn in by the masquerade and miracles of this man who will be empowered by the devil, because they didn't know the real thing. They failed to receive the gospel message - they heard it over and over again, but couldn't receive it - because they didn't love the truth. The truth is demanding. It’s a narrow gate…it's sacrificial….it means I’m all in! And it’s displayed through our living in obedience to Jesus and to the Word of God.

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Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “The Daredevil.”

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Blessings,

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Kevin