The Great Question of Revelation

The title today, The Great Question of Revelation. The great question of the book of Revelation. And you might subtitle it, How to Avoid the Mark of the Beast. What is at the center of the great conflict between God and Satan in the book of Revelation?

And what is the central question that every person must answer in the book of Revelation? And for that matter, the central question that humans have struggled with through the ages. In fact, it is a large part of the battle of the ages. The final conflict centers on a single word that appears over and over in the book of Revelation.

In fact, this word appears 60 times in the book of Revelation. And that word is worship. The word means to bow down, which is an act of submission to the object that one bows to. In short, the book of Revelation focuses on who will the sons and daughters of men worship? Who will they submit to?

Will they submit to God, or will they submit to the Satan and the devil? Or Satan, who is the devil? So first of all, let's note who will receive the mark of the beast. Revelation 13 verse 8, if you go there, Revelation 13 and verse 8, who will receive the mark of the beast? This is worldwide. It's not limited to a particular geographical area. As you will note when we read this verse together, it's Revelation 13.8, and all, all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

So if your name is not written in the Lamb's book of life at that time, you will be deceived. What is the main reason that anyone would willingly receive the mark of the beast? Or why will people receive it, perhaps not willingly, but unwittingly, not knowing? Most people will accept the mark of the beast because they are deceived. The main reason why people accept the mark of the beast is because they are deceived.

If your name is not written in the Lamb's book of life, you will be deceived. You must be called. No man can come to me unless the Father draw him. We're admonished over and over in Scripture to make our calling and election sure. So you must be called, and you have to do the seven doctrines, the seven great doctrines of Hebrews 6 verses 1 through 3. So if you would, let's turn there. Let's read those seven great doctrines. A lot of people focus on six great doctrines, but actually there are seven because going on to perfection cuts through the first six.

Going on to perfection begins with number one, repentance from dead works. So let's read the three verses there. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ. This is taking up from what is said in chapter 5. That is, for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that someone teach you again what be the first principles. So you can listen to every sermon and even comment and say that it is, oh that was good, or that wasn't so good, or whatever you might say, and yet you could be dull of hearing because it doesn't penetrate below a certain level in your mind and in your thinking.

It has come to the point to where you are motivated to do something about it, to do something with it, to dig deeper. I learned quite a lot in preparing the sermon myself. So leaving the principle of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection, not laying in the foundation of repentance from dead works. So after one is called and they are convicted by the Word and Spirit of God, they must then repent to stop breaking God's immutable spiritual law and to realize that the death penalty is upon their head and apart from God and Christ and the sacrifice of Christ, they're going to die, which leads to the next one and of faith toward God.

This faith toward God has many aspects. Faith toward God and also faith in the sacrifice of Christ because there's none other name given into heaven whereby men must be saved and that it is only through the sacrifice of Christ that our sins can be remitted. Then after that, the doctrine of baptism. After you have repented of your sins, exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ and your sins have been remitted, the sins that are passed, then you are baptized, symbolizing that you are bearing the old man that you're going to be raised to newness of life and then have hands laid on you, receive the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest, the down payment on eternal life, and then understanding the resurrection of the dead.

And one of the aspects of resurrection is to live the resurrected life now as you come up out of the baptismal waters and of eternal judgment. Yes, judgment is coming upon the world and judgment is now on the house of God according to the Apostle Peter. And this will we do if God permit. That is, go on to perfection. Those six things and number seven, going on to perfection, begins with our calling and our repentance.

One of the reasons why people will be deceived is because of the Spirit of the times. This reason centers on peer pressure for both young and old. We used to talk about peer pressure among the youth, and of course it's still very much there and perhaps greater than ever, but at the same time now we have people who live their lives in fear of not being politically correct.

They may be 80 years old and in the US Congress, and they know that they are walking a very thin line with regard to what they say and what it is and what they do.

So with the old, it might be called political correctness. If you want to get along with the powers that be in this world, you must go along with the crowd. It's the everybody is doing it syndrome. Everybody else is doing it. Why can't I very often the cry of youth? Matthew summarizes this mentality in Matthew 24 verse 12. You know that the Olivet prophecy, Matthew 24 and 25, deal with answering the question, what is the sign of your coming in the end of this age?

The sign of your coming in the end of this age. Matthew 24 12 gives you one of the big signs of the end of this age. And because iniquity, lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. They give in to the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times. It is said that man's greatest fear is social ostracism.

That is to be cast out of whatever social circle they are in. You remember the parents of the young man who was blind from birth that Jesus healed? When the powers that be, the religious powers asked him who healed him? They said, and it's parenthetically it says because they were afraid they'd be cast out of the synagogue, they answered, we don't know, ask him. He's of age. Being cast out. That is why so few stand in the gap, both old and young.

Now let's notice how great this deception is. You're there in Matthew 24 verse 24. We're going to read 24-24. As you turn there, you should be there if you turn to 12. In verse 15 it says, and when you therefore as you'll see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, let him who reads understand. And then it talks about various activities of people fleeing. And then you look at verse 20, it says, then when then, when the abomination of desolation is placed, there shall be great tribulation such as was not since the world began.

There will be false teaching, false gospel, false Christ, meaning that Christ has returned. Then you come to verse 24, for there shall arise false Christ, false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders into much that if it were possible, the very elect would be to see. What would keep it from being possible? Well, it would be God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Word, and your submission. Satan and the demons know that their days are numbered. Let's show that from Scripture. Satan and the demons have a certain knowledge or some knowledge of prophecy, and it goes way back. So Matthew chapter 8 verse 29.

In Matthew 8 and 29, the demons are encountered by Christ, and as Christ comes on the scene in Matthew 8 verse 29, they ask, and behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Or you come here to torment us before the time, before the time. They know that there is a time coming in which they are going to be dealt with and cast into outer darkness. And then in Revelation chapter 13, in verse 12, Revelation 13, 12, what we're talking about now is that the demons and Satan know that there is a certain time in which they're going to be dealt with.

And here in Revelation chapter 12, I think it's 12, 12, therefore rejoice you heavens and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the devil has come down unto you having great wrath because he knows he has but a short time, because he knows that he has but a short time.

He knows it. So he goes about with great fury, trying to destroy both spiritual and physical Israel. So Satan and the demons have some knowledge of prophecy. Satan and the demons know that after certain events occur, they will have a short time to thwart the plan of God and try to enthrone Satan as the object of worship. In all the world, worship the beast, except those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

So in the common vernacular, Satan will try to beat God to the punch, as they say, and Satan and the demons will counterfeit many of the prophecies that are there in the Book of Revelation. Perhaps the greatest counterfeit will be the lie that Christ has come. Now we read from Matthew 24, 24, that says that, "'Fault Christ shall arise,' and saying, He's there, He's in another place. Believe it not." It goes on to say in Matthew 24, as far as the east is well, as light shines from east to west, so shall the Son of Man be.

There's even talk about even trying to mimic that through holograms and that kind of thing of false signs in the sky, trying to duplicate some of the signs that are spoken of in Revelation 6, the heavenly signs, and holograms are possible. The Apostle Paul speaks of this great deception. That is, Satan is going to sit in the temple of God and proclaim that he is God. In other words, he will be counterfeiting the return of Jesus Christ and setting up his kingdom and his government, but it will be the kingdom and government of Satan the devil.

Over everyone whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. So let's go to 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, I don't know why I said 3. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In 2 Thessalonians in chapter 2, the Apostle Paul speaking here warns us of this great deception. Beginning in verse 3 of 2 Thessalonians 2, now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. So it's that time when Christ is going to come. The early church thought that the kingdom would be established very shortly after Christ ascended. It was not until later on that they realized that the kingdom was not going to be established immediately. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul speaks as if it's going to be a very short time. And then in 2 Thessalonians, he gives this message. Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him, that you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us, as that day of Christ is at hand. So there apparently there were words and letters being circulated that it was the case that the kingdom was about to be set up. Christ was about to come. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away. Now we have talked about falling away in a lot of different ways and you can, but there the Greek word here is apostasia.

And it can mean a defection, but the defection and it also means a false teaching. In this particular case, the false teaching deals with people accepting this one sitting in the temple as if he were God because he proclaims that he is, and everyone whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life is deceived. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away in apostasia, a defection, a false teaching. That comes first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God, he's saying, I'm God, that time has come.

All those prophecies that you've read about through the years, I'm here, I'm fulfilling these, who opposes, exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God showing that he is God. Remember you not, or don't you remember? When I was yet with you, I told you these things. I warned you about this in the past, is what Paul is saying. But people can be warned about certain things time after time, let a little time go by, and they're right back where they were to begin with.

How will Satan deceive the people through this great lie? This lie revives the one that was told in the Garden of Eden to Eve, and when Satan asks, can we, as God said, you can eat of every tree in the garden, and Eve said, well, every tree but the one in the middle of garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If we eat of that tree, we'll die. Satan said, you will not surely die. So this lie, people are deceived through great signs and wonders.

Look there at verse 8, and then shall that wicked be revealed. But it's through this very act of revealing that a lot of people are deceived. That is, that wicked be revealed, and the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, you can read about that in Revelation 19, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming even him whose working is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.

The technology that is available in the world today, and we're just at the verge of one of the greatest technological revolutions in this thing, is going to continue and continue until the time that God cuts it short, sort of like the Tower of Babel, in which it was said there that you see what they're doing down there?

And if we don't intervene, nothing that they imagine cannot be done. Whatever they imagine to do in their hearts, they can do. So we ought to go down and stop this, so God stopped it, confounded the languages. Recently there in Dallas, they were pursuing a criminal, and so this officer sent in a robot, killed the criminal.

He was exonerated for doing it. So that's even now the technology, that's how far advanced it is. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. One of the great keys I hammer it all the time, we shall always, hopefully, as God gives us life and breath, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause, now this verse, for this cause, because they didn't really love the truth, they were dull of hearing.

Maybe they sat in church, but it never got below a certain level. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. There's no indefinite article in the Greek there. The lie. What is the lie? That one who's sitting in the temple saying that he is God, deceiving the whole world. That they all might be damned, condemned, judged, who believe not the truth, but had pleasure and unrighteousness.

Note again verse 11, God sends them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. Why do they receive strong delusion? It's because they love not the truth. Remember Matthew 24. 24, if it were possible, the very elect would be deceived. So to avoid being one of the beards, so to avoid being one of those that is deceived, you have to become one of the very elect. To become one of the very elect, you must love the truth and be as the Bereans. Search the Scriptures daily whether these things be true, and you must be living by faith and doing what you know to do, and you are daily closing that gap between what you know and what you're doing.

To close that gap between what you know and what you do. That is one of the greatest challenges for basically everybody that's in the Church of God because we are, to a large degree, we are a knowledge-based, prophecy-based church. Let's know, let's know, let's know. Thank you for this knowledge, and we also need to be thinking for what we're doing. If a person is doing that, that is having the laws of God written on the inward part, searching the Scriptures daily whether these things be true, praying, meditating on the Word of God, they will know and know that they know the truth.

Their consciences, the knowing within, will be purged of evil thoughts and works, and they will have a new conscience, a new knowing inside themselves. The Scriptures speak of God's name being on foreheads of true believers in the book of Revelation. Now we go to Revelation 14.1 and we see this, the name of God being on foreheads of true believers in Revelation 14 and verse 1.

One of the things that I said up front was Satan counterfeiting prophecy. Satan can quote scripture far better than any of us can. It probably has the Bible memorized as it say, forward and backwards, but it has very little spiritual or maybe none spiritual understanding, really. I looked and lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Zion and with him 144,000 having a father's name written in their foreheads. Now look at Revelation 22 and verse 4. See, this is after you're resurrected and in the kingdom of God for some time. Notice what it says, and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads. We can ask ourselves, as I ask people at the close of funerals, when I read this verse, am I ready to look on the face of God?

So Satan will attempt to counterfeit this and set his mark on the foreheads of those who worship him. Now there's some controversy as to whether or not a literal mark is used, such as a computer chip or some other kind of technology to identify and enforce the requirement of worshiping the beast and or his image. Now in times past, the laws get more and more lax in order to vote. You're supposed to register. Of course, you've had all these stories about voter fraud and that kind of thing and dead people voting and some people voting 20 times and all those kind of things that that happen. The Social Security Act in the 1930s, people were given a Social Security number and eventually people began to raise eyebrows and say, well, this is a way they can track you the rest of your life. And then eventually, in recent times, the law was passed that every child that is born is given a Social Security number and that is recorded. So there's already means of identification in that sense. But of course, the advent of now the computer and computer chips and all that can track your life history from birth to wherever you are. So there has to be some kind of means to enforce the requirement of worshiping the beast and or his image. Satan and his minions have used the worship of an image in the past.

If you will, you turn to Daniel chapter 3. In Daniel chapter 3, while you're turning there, you might remember that Israel worshipped a golden calf. When Moses went up on the mount to receive the Ten Commandments again, when he came back, they were dancing and having a big frolicking party filled with frivolity and foolishness. And of course, God was greatly displeased with all of this. They had made a golden calf. They were worshiping that, carry over from the pagan ways of Egypt.

So in Daniel chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar and his minions, you'll see in verse 1, Nebuchadnezzar built this great golden image, apparently of himself. And if anyone refused to bow down and worship the image, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. So he called a great convocation of counselors and rulers from all over the various provinces. And then in verse 4, then, and Harold cried aloud to you, it is commanded, O people, nations and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the various musical instruments, that you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.

And whoso does not fall down and worship this image will be thrown into the fiery furnace. And you know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar's image is similar to that of Revelation 13. So we turn to Revelation 13 and begin there in verse 11. Revelation 13. Revelation 13, 11, and I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns, and it looked like a lamb, but he spoke as a dragon.

He exercised all the power of the first beast before him, causes the earth and then the dwelled Arian to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. And he doth great wonders so that he makes fire come down from heaven. Science and wonders, he deceives the world. Fire comes down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.

How are you going to deny that? It must be some great supernatural. Is this of God, or is it of the devil? And deceives them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them to dwell on earth that they should make an image to the beast.

See, you get the duality of this image the Nebuchadnezzar made in Daniel 3. And if you didn't bow down and worship that image, which apparently was an image of Nebuchadnezzar, you were thrown into the fiery furnace, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by sword and did live, and he had power to give life. And you can look up that word, life, means what it says.

Had power to give life into the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship, the image of the beast should be killed. Recently, they cloned a chimpanzee. They're talking about cloning humans. And as we talked about earlier, we're on the advent of one of the greatest technological revolutions ever, and it'll just continue to increase. And he causes all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in the right hand or in their foreheads, and that no man might by ourselves save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of the beast.

Now the thing that they have to do is to worship the beast, to bow down and worship. Now that we look at Revelation 14 there, just cross a page or turn a page. In Revelation 14 9 and 10, we find one of the strongest warnings against worshiping the beast that you'll find in the whole Bible. So Revelation 14 and verse 9.

Revelation 14 verse 9. And the third angel followed them. Remember the three angels that are sent out. Here's the third one. The first one goes out declaring the everlasting gospel, and the third one is giving this warning. And the third angel followed, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.

And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the presence of the Lamb. I mean, you're going to pay the price if you receive that mark. The Bible speaks of Christ coming in the clouds of glory. See, we're talking about counterfeiting. And will Satan the devil counterfeit Christ's coming in the clouds of glory? The Bible speaks of Christ coming in the clouds of glory and sitting on the throne of his glory.

So let's read that one from Matthew 19, verse 28. In Matthew 19, verse 28, this something similar is repeated twice in Matthew about Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of his glory. Matthew 19, verse 28, And Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that you which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you shall also sit upon twelve tribes, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

In a moment, we're going to have more to say about the thrones, the throne of God, the throne of Christ, and the throne of the saints. Now notice in Matthew 25, verse 31. Matthew 25, verse 31, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. Now what we're going to find out in just a moment, we'll be reading a verse that shows at the present time, Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father on the Father's throne, and he is fulfilling specific roles in doing that, as we shall see.

Now in Revelation 4, verse 9, back to the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 4 and verse 9, setting the stage here, she turned there to Revelation 4, verse 9. John is given a vision of the throne of God, and he describes it in rather a detailed way of what it looks like, the various lights and all that surround the throne, the 24 elders. We want to read here verses 9 through 11. Revelation chapter 4, verse 9, John is given a vision of God sitting on his throne, and when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying.

So this was actually done in the courts of rulers of the day that the nobles or whomever would gather around and praise the one on the throne and cast their crowns there before the one showing allegiance to him. Verse 11, you art worthy, O Lord, to give glory and honor and power, for you have created all things for your thelema.

The Greek word is T-H-E-L-E-M-A. Thelema means will. In most places it is translated will. For example, in Ephesians 1.11, to do God's will. And for your will they are and were created. The whole creation was made to fulfill the will of God and Christ. I don't know why you could translate thelema as desire, but to put pleasure especially. See, this is 1611, the authorized version. And to put pleasure there in view of today's world doesn't at all, because literally in most places this Greek word is translated as will. For your will they are and were created. In Revelation 5.13, so back a few pages once again, when Christ comes, His glory, He'll sit on the throne of His glory.

Here we see God the Father sitting on His throne. Notice this in Revelation 5.13, all living things, Revelation 5.13, and every creature which is in heaven and on earth and upon the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever. So it'd be helpful at this point, I think, to highlight and to distinguish some facts about the thrones of God, Christ, and the saints.

As we noted in Revelation chapters 4 and 5 that we've just read here, John sees God sitting on His throne, and as we noted the 24 elders in chapter 4 are worshiping God. We read from Matthew 19 and 25 which states that when Christ comes, when He returns, He will sit on the throne of His glory. However, at the present time, Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father on the Father's throne.

We'll read this clearly, look at Revelation 3.21. Recently I was talking with an elder and I said at the present time, Christ is sitting with the Father on the Father's throne. Oh, He is? Yeah, it's plain as day, and He as I said earlier, and we'll talk about that in a second, He is fulfilling important roles there.

In Revelation 3 verse 21, to Him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne.

So when He comes in the power of His glory, sit up on His throne. To Him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am sat down with My Father in His throne. Now, what is He doing there? He is fulfilling His role of mediator, the New Covenant, and the role of our High Priest, Hebrews 7.25.

Hebrews 7.25 says, Wherefore, see, this is as our High Priest, our intercessor, wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them, seeing that He ever lives to make intercession for them.

So when Christ comes again, He will sit on the throne of His glory. As we read, we will also be sitting on thrones. Revelation 20 Revelation 20, verse 1, And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is called the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be filled, and after that he should be loosed to little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, which had not worshiped the beast.

Had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

And thrones were cast, and they sat upon them.

Now let's note the inspired word of the Apostle Paul in Hebrews chapter 1, concerning when Christ does come again, and a little technical point here that is interesting to to note. In Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 5, remember what the book of Hebrews does, compares and contrasts elements of the old covenant with elements of the new covenant, showing the superiority of the new covenant to the old covenant and its various aspects from the priesthood. Now it's Melchizedek, Jesus Christ being the ultimate fulfillment of Melchizedek, instead of a physical temple, the spiritual temple, instead of physical offerings, spiritual offerings, instead of promise of physical blessings, spiritual blessings, he just goes on and on with the superiority. In Hebrews 1 and 5, for unto which of the angels said he at any time?

So some people might have gotten the idea. You don't know what all is in the mind of Paul or God when this is inspired that angels were superior. We even have people today who are groups, not in the Church of God, per se, that teach that Jesus Christ is a created being, like the angels. For unto which of the angels said, at any time you art my son, this day have I ganao you. Ganao, when it is used of mother, it has to do with bringing forth. When it is used of father, it means to engender life. This day have I begotten you. The father begets us, and he also brings us to birth. This is a quote from Psalm 2 and verse 7. Look at Psalm 2 and verse 7.

Psalm 2 verse 7, I will declare the decree the Lord has said unto me, You art my son, this day have I, begotten you. Yalad is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek ganao, which once again with a father to beget or engender with a mother to bring forth or give birth. And the apostle Paul in Acts chapter 13, we have the great inspired sermon. Are you turning to Acts 13? I am. In Acts 13, Paul is giving an inspired sermon. We have the inspired sermon of Peter in chapter 2, the inspired sermon of Stephen in chapter 7, and this great sermon here by Paul in chapter 13.

And what we just read from Psalm 2, what we read from Hebrews 1.5, to complete the picture to some degree here of this, in verse 33. This is Acts 13, 33.

God had fulfilled the same unto us, their children, in that he had raised up Jesus.

He has raised up Jesus. Now, that means he resurrected Jesus. In Revelation 1.5, that is equated with birth because it says in Revelation 1.5 that Jesus is the first-born prototarchos from the dead. That he raised up Jesus again, as it is written in the second psalm, which we just read. The second psalm. The psalmist knew this. You art my son. This day have I begotten you, Gennao you. Of course, the father begat Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary, and the father resurrected Jesus Christ. He became the first-born among many brethren. And it's concerning that he raised him up from the dead. Now, no more to return to corruption. He said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. So, we go back to Hebrews chapter 1, verse 5. Took a little side trip there to explain this. This day have I begotten you. Very interesting study. Psalm 2, Acts 13, Revelation 1. You art my son. This day have I begotten you. We pursued that. And again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And again, when he brings the first begotten, and the Greek word here is, gnao, or into the world, he said, and let all, and here it would begin verse 6. Now, here's one of the very interesting things we'll pursue for just a moment, and let all the angels of God worship him. Well, if you look in your various concordances and various translations trying to find this quote in the Old Testament, you won't be able to find it unless it has the Septuagint translation of it.

So it says, and again, when he brings the first begotten into the world, he said, let all the angels of God worship him, and of the angels he said, and of the angels he said, who makes his angel spirits and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the sun, he said, your throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. And that is almost a direct quote from Psalm 45 verses 6 and 7, which we'll look at in just a moment. So in Hebrews 6, where it says, let all the angels of God worship him, Paul is quoting the Septuagint version of Deuteronomy 32.43. Look at Deuteronomy 32.43. Over the years, there's been a lot of talk back and to in the church whether or not Christ and the apostles quoted from the Septuagint.

We had one of our more famous scholars, he's dead now, who made a case, supposedly trying to make a case that Christ or the apostles never quoted from the Septuagint, that it was a corrupted version. Now the Septuagint, what is it? The Septuagint was the Old Testament translated into Greek. The Septuagint was translated into Greek in circa 260 BC by a group of Jewish scholars in Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria was one of the great learning centers of the world at that time.

He had Athens and Greece, Tarsus and Asia Minor, Alexandria and Egypt, and Jerusalem in Israel.

In Deuteronomy 32, verse 43, Rejoice, O you nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land and to his people.

Now the Septuagint reads that. Here's how the Septuagint translates that verse. Rejoice, O you heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him. Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him. For he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, recompense, judgment to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him, and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.

So this shows the Apostle Paul quoting from the Septuagint, Hebrews 1-6. Now for those who listen to this, no need to write me and try to straight me out on this. You can look it up, but you can look at whatever sources you want to.

From Jamison Faucet and Brown, the God bringing forth his first begotten is a fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the firstborn, as in Psalm 89 and verse 27, speaking of David. And so Jesus Christ is the ultimate son of David. The coronation ceremony of Christ and the taking of his bride is described in Psalm 45.

Let's go to Psalm 45 and we'll see. In Psalm 45 verses 6 and 7, we'll see here that verse 8 of Hebrews 1-8 is essentially quoting Psalm 45 verses 6 and 7. In Psalm 45 verse 6, your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter. You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. Now let's read once again Hebrews 1 and verse 8. And again, when he brings in the first begotten Greek anao into the world, he says, let out of this is verse 6. I want to read verse 8.

So I'll just... Hebrews 13, not 13, but 1. Hebrews 1 and verse 8.

But under the sun he said, your throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness, is a scepter of your kingdom. So it's almost a direct quote from Psalm 45 and verse 8.

So when Jesus Christ comes again, he will be enthroned, as it talks about here in Psalm 45 and also in Hebrews 1 verses 5 through 8. But the purpose of this to a large degree, and here Hebrews 1, is to show under the inspiration of God's Spirit, the Apostle Paul is showing from Scripture that Christ is much higher than the angels. Now do you remember what it says in Romans 8 verse 17? What are we in relationship to God and Christ?

Well Romans 8, 17 says, heirs of God, heirs of God, and then what does it say?

And joint heirs with Jesus Christ. If children then heirs, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.

So Christ is going to make us kings and priests. I'm reading now Revelation 1.6.

Revelation 1.6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. See, we are going to be kings and priests. As we've already noted, thrones are going to be cast and we're going to sit on them.

Father has a throne. Jesus Christ on his throne. Thrones are cast for us because we are going to be made kings and priests. Now I'm going to read Revelation 5 and verse 10. And hath made us unto our God kings and priests, and where will we reign in heaven? He is made unto us kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Jesus Christ is a king and priest on his throne, and so shall we be, because he makes us kings and priests. Look at Zechariah 6 and verse 12.

In Zechariah chapter 3, in one of the visions that Zechariah has given, it says that he shall bring forth his servant the branch.

And in Zechariah chapter 6 verse 12, we find out what the branch does. Zechariah chapter 6 and verse 12. Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold, a man whose name is the branch.

He shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. So you remember Matthew 16, 18, upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He shall build the temple of the Lord. Even he shall build the temple of the Lord.

And he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne. He shall be a priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. That is, on his throne a king and priest, and so shall we be. He makes us kings and priests. So the saints will be given thrones, as I've already read from Revelation 20. Now note the amazing words in Revelation 3 in verse 9. Revelation 3 and verse 9. In Revelation 3 and verse 9 we find some amazing words.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. The scriptures speak of Christ ruling the nations with a rod of iron. And we continue with the counterfeiting. The scriptures speak of Christ ruling the nations with a rod of iron.

In Psalm 2 and verse 9. So let's look at Psalm 2 and verse 9. Psalm 2 is so rich in meaning, and so revealing, and so many ways. I would encourage you to read it in Psalm 2 and verse 9. Remember we read verse 7. You are my son, this day have I begotten you. We'll pick it up with 8.

Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, the nations. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel, like you drop a plate and it splatters into a thousand pieces, as they say. Revelation 2.27 says, He shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my father.

See the similarity between Psalm 2 and verse 9, and Revelation 2 verse 27. He shall rule them with a rod of iron. Revelation 12.5. And she brought forth a man-child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne.

Revelation 19.15. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. So Satan will use these same verses in all probability to try to force everyone to worship him or be killed, as we have read from Revelation 13.

Eight times in chapters 13 and 14, attention is called to worship. It is the crucial word throughout this section of the book of Revelation. Worship God or receive the plagues that God is going to pour out on humankind. We read that from Revelation 14.9. The focus and command of the book of Revelation is to worship God. Let's note four verses that emphasize the worship of God, as we have already noted. When the millennium begins, Christ also will sit on his throne.

So please turn to Revelation 4.10. We've already read that. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying. So Revelation 4.10, even the twenty-four elders there worship God. Revelation 14.7. Revelation 14.7. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him, and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of water. Revelation 15 verse 4. Revelation 15 verse 4.

Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments are made manifest. Now perhaps the key verse in all of this with regard to worship.

Let's preface this, if you would turn to Revelation 22.9.

Preface this. Remember what Revelation 1.1 says? The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show the things that should come to pass.

The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave to him, Christ gave it to an angel who gave it to John, and John writes a letter to the seven churches. And those messages are relevant to us today, every one of them.

So John has received all of these various visions, and we come to the last chapter of the book of Revelation. And John is so overwhelmed with this that he wants to fall down and worship at the feet of this angel who has brought him all these visions. And the response of that angel is Revelation 22.9. Then, said he unto me, see that you do it not, for I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book worship God.

The devil even sought worship from Jesus. If you look at Matthew 4 and verse 9, remember in Matthew 3, Jesus Christ is baptized, then he goes out into the wilderness, chapter 4, to be tempted of the devil.

Three great temptations were the lust of the flesh, turned stones into bread, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, taking him up to the mountain, jump off, God will take care of you.

It is written, You shall not tempt the Lord your God. Then he takes him up and shows him the kingdoms of the world, and says, All this will I give unto you if you will bow down and worship me.

So what is the response of Jesus Christ?

Then said Jesus unto him, Get you hence, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.

So clearly, worship provides the main conflict of the book of Revelation, the contrast between those who worship God and those who worship the beast.

God will not tolerate false worship. The narrative of the book to a large degree centers on worship.

Who are you going to worship? It is the battle of the ages, the time that Satan tried to take over God's throne to the present day. In fact, it goes back much farther than that. When Satan began to plan his devious deeds and drew a third part of the angels with him, and they became demons and tried to take over the throne of God from that day to the present day, from time immemorial, Satan has been on an insatiable quest to be worshiped.

Worship that is acceptable to God has historically been at the center of man's relationship with God.

Worship that is acceptable to God.

In the Old Testament, it was through sacrifices of animals that men and women were declared to be ceremonially clean and could approach unto God. You know the story of Cain and Abel. Cain brought a thank offering. Abel brought an offering for sin, realizing that he wasn't centered. His offering was accepted so he could worship. In the days of Joshua, the focus was on, who are you going to serve? You know, if you want to serve the gods on the other side of the river, then go there.

But Joshua says, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. On Mount Carmel, the days of Elijah, the issue was worship. If Baal be God, then serve him. And if God be God, serve him. And as we've already noted, when Satan tried to tempt Jesus Christ in those three great temptations, bow down and worship me. And Christ says, it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. So as we've already noted, the Apostle Paul warns us that those who do not love the truth will be sent grand delusion that they should believe the lie. What lie?

That the one who is sitting in the temple of God posing as God is a counterfeit. The mark of the beast will probably have a combination of two components. A physical means of identification, as indicated by the fact that no one can buy or sell except those who have the mark of the beast, it will have a religious or spiritual basis that is connected with worship. You must not worship the beast. Or, on the other hand, you could say in order to buy and sell and receive the mark, you have to worship the beast. And so many will worship the beast, everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, because they're deceived. They love not the truth.

The day of worship has often been one of the main tenets of obedience.

The Sabbath has historically been the hallmark of the sign of God's people. The focus of Satan's wrath in Revelation 1217 centers on those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. So what is the testimony of Jesus Christ?

The Greek word for testimony is maturea. It can be translated three different ways, the record of, the witness of, the testimony of. The testimony of Jesus Christ consists of the words and actions of Jesus. He testified of the words of life. Jesus is a king, a prophet.

He's our high priest, our intercessor and mediator. In short, the testimony of Jesus is the life and teachings of Jesus. So we can all examine ourselves here today in light of what we have discussed.

Is my name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Have I made myself ready? Do I have on a wedding garment?

Do I love the truth to the point that I am not dull of hearing?

Am I searching the scriptures daily? Is God writing His immutable spiritual law on my inward parts?

Am I living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God?

Am I living by faith? The judge shall live by faith. Am I making my calling and election sure? Am I one of the very elect? If it were possible, the very elect would be deceived.

So each one of us must examine ourselves in light of the Word of God.