His Perfect Love

Matt VanderVen: Think you can go toe-to-toe with the devil and win? Pastor Matt says a much better approach is to allow Jesus to do the fighting for you.

Matt Vanderboegh: The Archangel Michael, when Lucifer was coming against him, said, you know what? Jesus deal with you. There should never be a Christian that's walking out even in all authority that ever says, I'm going to go kick the devil in the teeth. I'm not going with you. All right, you you want to go on a mission trip and I'm going to kick the devil in teeth. You you have that. I'll be praying for you. I'm going to be with Jesus over here and I'm going to let Jesus go before me. Because that's what I read in the holy scriptures is that even the Archangel Michael, who was over all of Israel, right?

That was his command. He is the Archangel for Israel. And even he wouldn't go directly against Satan one-on-one, mono-on-mono. He says, no, I'll let Jesus deal with you, Satan.

Matt VanderVen: There have been some noteworthy mismatches in sport throughout the years. In 1916, Georgia Tech defeated Cumberland 222 to zero. In the '92 Barcelona Olympics, the US defeated Angola 116 to 48, but none can compare to the mismatch we'll read about today on His Perfect Love in Revelation chapter 12. It features the devil and his angels against God and his angels, and it takes place at a most unusual venue, heaven. We already know who wins, but the question remains, which side are you on? Here's Pastor Matt Vanderboegh.

Matt Vanderboegh: So, Revelation chapter 12, I'm just going to start again. If you remember last we left off in chapter 11, just really quick, uh we left off there was two witnesses. They were put on the scene. If you just look up here, we have the timeline. We're talking about the seven-year tribulation when between Revelation 6 through 18. If you remember the two witnesses there, they're for the first three and a half years of the seven years. And then you remember that kind of culminates with the abomination of desolation, right? The Antichrist is on the scene. He goes in.

He defiles not only the temple, but boy is he upset and he turns around and he begins to turn around and persecute some of the Jews and it says that very clearly they leave and flee the area just as Jesus said it would happen within the Gospels. They're leaving the area. They're getting out, maybe heading towards Petra. And that begins the latter three and a half years. Now, during that latter three and a half years, there's several things that are going to happen in heaven and on earth. Very important. I know our timeline doesn't necessarily delineate all that, but it's very important when you see it up and down cuz up in the thousand-year millennial reign, that's certainly future, but there are things that have to happen before that is going to occur.

And it makes a lot of sense when we study it in scripture and we're going to look at some of these things specifically in regards to um heaven, uh the the Satan having access to come to and fro. What part of heaven is it? The third, second, or first heaven? We're going to look and examine all of that this morning in the Bible in scripture in light of our passage. But but just to anchor you, that's where we're at. We're right in this section here, the latter three and a half years, and it's really at the beginning of the latter three and a half years, okay?

So, look with me at chapter 12. Now, a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed, we read this last week. This was Israel, with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of 12 stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and pain to give birth. We know that's Jesus Messiah. And another sign appeared in heaven, behold a great fiery red dragon. That's Satan. Having seven heads and 10 horns, we're going to talk about the horns and the heads. We it's certainly talking to power authority like kings, uh 10 nations because of Daniel.

We get the interpretation. And seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars. Remember that from heaven? That's a third of the angels, the fallen angels that came, okay? With Lucifer. Um and he threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, Israel, who is ready to give birth to devour her child, the Messiah Jesus, as soon as he was born. And she bore a male child who was to rule over all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up to God. We know that is the first fruits of the resurrection and ascension into heaven.

And then the woman fled into the wilderness. Again, that's Israel. The latter half of the 1260 days, God is going to supernaturally protect Israel, okay? Because there's going to be genocide that's going to break out on the earth. Genocide like genocide we've never seen. And I mean I understand that. Some of you say, well, Pastor, what about the Holocaust, 6 million Jews? Nothing compared to it. What you're going to see from the mezzanines looking down cuz the church will be raptured out, nothing compared because there's something that's going to happen very matter of fact at this time.

Lucifer is going to realize his time's short. See, the time clock is Once the Antichrist went in and that abomination desolation, that starts. He knows the Bible. Lucifer knows the Bible better than anyone of us here, okay? He knows the word of God. And he knows he's got what? How much time? Three and a half years, 1,260 days. You don't think he's counting that down? And and also it's going to we're going to tie into this. Where's he going to be able to go? Today he can go to and fro. He's got a lot of places to focus his energy.

Go up there and oh, you know, hey Matt or hey Susan or hey Sally or hey Bill or hey all you know all these things go. You know what he's doing. He's in church now. Oh yeah, that guy. And he's accusing the brethren and the sisters in heaven right now before God. And certainly Jesus Christ stands up and says that's he's covered in washing the blood of the Lamb or she's covered in washing the blood. But this is happening. What's going to happen when he doesn't have the time or he's not even allowed to do that anymore?

And now his soul focus just becomes on this earth. See, it all makes sense when you take a biblical understanding of why all his focus and attention comes directly only on the Jewish people and then the surrounding Gentiles that could converted to Christianity by believing in Jesus Christ. So, this is important. And the child was caught up to the throne then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared for her by God that she would uh feed her there, Israel, three there 1,260 days, okay? So, we've all been caught up to that point.

Now, we're moving into the part of the passage that we have not been and this is where we're going. And a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels, underline that, very important, fought with the dragon. No no coincidence. Michael, he's the Archangel of Israel. And the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail. So, this where's this battle, friends? Is this on the earth or is it in heaven? In heaven. Remember I told you in the latter three and a half years we're going to have events that are occurring on the earth and in heaven.

We need to keep our eyes on where God is focusing us. Nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. This is future. So, the great dragon was cast out, the serpent of old called the devil and Satan. Just in case anybody was still wondering who's the dragon. Who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him. So, not even the demons now can go back and forth anymore. Now, I'm going to talk more about this, but before lest anybody gets confused. To this point, even in our lives, he's still going to and fro.

He's still accusing you and me all the time before God when we blow it. Some of you are going to get a little bit confused of well, I don't understand. I thought that he was kicked out of heaven. And I thought how does he still have the ability to go to and fro? We're going to learn. He was removed from his office as a cherubim, as a senior worship leader, as everything he was doing that. But he was not necessarily removed from going between the first and the second heavens. He still has the access to do that.

Some of you are like, what is he talking about first, second, third heaven? We're going to get there in scripture, but I want you to know that it's not contradicting those two events. They're it's just talking about two different things. A point where he'll never even be able to go back and forth anymore. He can still do that today. But there's going to come a time where he can't even do that and it will make sense because the church is what? Raptured out. So, who's he going to accuse? We're all up there with him, right?

Even the martyred saints go immediately absent from the body, present with the Lord. So, they're going to go right up to be with Christ. So, it makes sense why this timing of events occurs this way theologically studying scripture. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and power of our Christ has come for the accuser of our brethren. That's exactly what he's been known for in heaven, accusing you and I who accuse them before our God day and night. That's exactly what he's been doing.

Have you ever had that moment where you're tanking and you don't know why? Sometimes it's the world, sometimes it's the flesh, sometimes it is the enemy, right? You think about different things. He'll lie to you. He'll put things in your head. He will try to tank you, you know. He'll try to have you have depressive thoughts, maybe anxiety or anxious thoughts. Sometimes he turns around in the inner ear cuz he can't read your mind. So, he'll sort of look at your body, you know, language and he'll throw those thoughts in your head. He'll throw those thoughts in your mind.

Even suicidal ideation, all-time high. He's throwing those things in there because he's trying to separate people from the perfect peace of God. But he's up there. He's going back and forth and he's doing this day and night. He doesn't sleep. He doesn't slumber. He's an immortal being. He doesn't grow tired. He's not like angels have to take naps like you and I. We need sleep. He doesn't require any of this. So, this is something that every Christian needs to be aware of. You have an enemy. He hates you. Okay? Everybody needs to settle this. There's no more of this middle ground with well, you know, if he doesn't bother me, I'm not bothering.

No, you have an enemy. He knows everything about you. He's studied you and he wants not just to kill you. That would be that would be overly simple. He wants to destroy your relationship with Jesus. He wants to tank you. He wants to turn around and call you into an immoral life. He wants to turn around separate the peace, the joy, the goodness of things that can come from God because he is nothing but jealous and envious of the relationship that human beings have with the holy creator God. You know, we are the apple of God's eye.

We're His creation. Satan can't stand it. He was created perfect. And he's probably sitting there or standing and go, man, I was the most beautiful of all angels. Isn't it enough? Well, of course it was. It was meant to be contentment, but he didn't find contentment because he wanted more than what God intended for him. And this is the key to everything we're going to talk about and see this morning here and this is very important. So, he accuses them before God day and night and he he has been cast down and they overcame and you told you how here by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.

Do you see that? They were no longer worried about how to continue to propagate life. They weren't worried about dying for Christ. They didn't have fear anymore that way because they understood and know that it's Jesus in His blood and they've been washed. Therefore rejoice oh heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea for the devil has come down you having great judgment. Now, he's bringing wrath, but not like God's wrath. God's wrath is against what? The unbelieving world. Those that are Christ rejecting. The devil's coming with wrath and anger for who predominantly?

The Jews, actually the the people of Israel and the Gentiles. We're raptured out. This is future. So, remember he is coming down, but don't think he doesn't have wrath for you and I today. He has wrath for us right now because he knows that his time is what? Short. You see that's what amps him up. That's what it is. It's all about Satan. You ever heard somebody say it's all about you? It's Where do you think you got that from? It's all about the devil. It's always been all about the devil. When you are in that position where you're making everything about you, what spirit are you of?

Right? Jesus said what you know get behind me to Peter. What of his own apostles? Get behind me who? Cuz he knew what spirit Peter was of at that moment. He was he was walking in the flesh. All right. So, a lot's going on here. Well, again, this dragon resembles the fourth beast of Daniel. Now, we didn't go into all this detail last week, but um if you want to go back, you can look at it. There was a vision given to Daniel. It was he was terrifying. He was dreadful. He was strong. Those are the words that were used, Daniel 7:7.

And what did he do this this dragon, this beast? He devoured and crushed his victims. That's the thing I want you to see here this morning, which is why I'm bringing back Daniel to you this morning because he literally went in. And how did he do it? He had huge iron teeth and he trampled their enemies beneath his feet. Now, Daniel's beast also had 10 horns, but those 10 horns represented 10 powerful earthly kings cuz we're giving the interpretation right in Daniel. And this is important because we can apply that same interpretation right here because we're told similar things.

These were earthly kings. How many of you heard that there would be 10 kings that will rise up in the last of the last days, right? And they're going to establish a new world order, okay? This is what he's talking about when he says he's got these crowns. He's going to possess uh those that are in the great tribulation that are living at them to carry out his uh wickedness, evil. And it's going to be these earthly kings. And it's He's going to oppress God's people, right? And you can see more of that in Revelation chapter 17 verse 12.

So, we read here that this is really the last and this is important so we keep it chronologically accurate. It's not the last battle against Satan. This is the last great war that John sees between Michael and the angels of God and Satan and the fallen angels that is going to take place in the latter half of the tribulation in heaven. Does everybody see that with me here? In heaven. This is where people get so confused because what about Armageddon? What about No no no. We're talking just in heaven. Revelation 12, our focus is on heaven and then to the earth when Satan is cast out.

So, Satan in his great pride and delusion thinks that he can be like God, right? And he's going to lead this final rebellion against God. That's his whole point. Now, I I was thinking in my notes I wrote this as how do I help people explain because so often in the days we're living because we're used to I don't know it was just How many of you remember there was a fight not too long ago? Uh it was with Jake and uh Mike uh Tyson, remember? And everybody saw the boxing match that was coming up and you know it was tuned in and if you could actually get it to stream correctly and not crash on you.

But uh some of you were watching that and you remember the fight and the whole thing I mean and and you know here it was, you know, Mike Tyson, this man that was this, you know, incredible boxer for so many years, has so much experience against this young man that's what? I don't know a third of his age or something like that. I can't remember the different age, but he's going to get in there and you know it's going to be the it Anybody who watched that fight did it It looked a little bit like a mismatch?

A little bit like a mismatch. Not because of experience or anything, predominantly because of what? Age, youth. And I started thinking about that and I thought what was the example that I Because here is the holy God that created everything in the universe and everything around it. He's God. He's eternal. And you have one of his created beings that happens to be immortal, that's an angel. Now, granted, you know, some scholars have said he was the head of all angels. He was the perfect of all angels. He was the lead of all angels. We don't have any biblical evidence of that.

I want to be very clear. You'll read that in a lot of commentaries. I've heard pastors teach that. There's no biblical grounding scripturally for that. What we do know is that he was a worship leader and he was perfect in his creation. And we're going to go through that this morning. We're going to see those scriptures ourselves so we get grounded and who our enemy really is. You need to know your enemy. You're part of a war. You got to know who you're going to get who's the enemy spiritually speaking, right? Now, it's eternal God versus a immortal being.

And I came up with this idea of an internal immortal mismatch. I don't have any other way of saying it. It's an eternal immortal mismatch. It's not an equal. It not God versus Satan or you know the angels Michael versus the fallen It's God. Yes. Uh Michael and the fallen angels are going to be the ones fighting the battle, but God is the one is the army of the who? What's the most used title in all of scripture for God? The army, the God of the hosts, the God of the angel armies. So, whenever the angel armies go to battle, God is leading them in the battle, right?

Do Do you understand what I'm saying? God of the hosts are God of the angel armies. That's the most used title for God through scripture. You go ahead and be Bereans and search that. So, anyway it 's an immortal mismatch because sometimes well, I don't see God in this battle. This is about the fallen angels and and fighting the non-fallen angels, the the what we know is angels versus demons. But God is behind all of this, okay? God is behind the uh angels that have not fallen. So, it's an immortal mismatch. Therefore the dragon and his demons are going to lose the battle as we we already know how it ends.

Anybody that would follow Satan, I don't get it. When you come to Revelation chapter 12, you read it, you know what's going to happen sort of the end of the story there, if I can say the end of the account, you know, but yet there are millions of people that are giving their souls to him every day. Every single day. And we know for 100% fact that he's going to he can't even win the battle in heaven. You think he's going to win the battle on the earth? The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, scripture says.

So, this is exactly what's going on. Um And so what's he say? Well, he turns around and he says they're going to be thrown out of heaven at this point, the first and second heavens. And there's going to be a you know a common misconception is that Satan and his demons were locked away in hell. Uh so many people believe that today um after the the fall of Satan. So many people if you talk to Christians and you said, do you believe that the devil is really a lion uh roaring to see who he can devour?

So, oh I no, I don't either. They say well, you know, he's he's really uh under you know in in hell right now. He's not going to and fro anymore. Well, where do you read that in scripture? I just read a passage that's tells me there's a battle that's breaking out and he's absolutely going to and fro. I know it's during the seven-year tribulation and I know it's during the latter half of the seven seven-year tribulation cuz we're in context. So, how anybody can come up with that without contradicting scriptures beyond me to be overly simple.

Well, it's clear and I think it's going to clear I'm going to bring it through you this bring us through here this morning from the Bible passage that Satan was not barred from heaven or the earth after his first rebellion. He simply lost his office which was again which by the way that predated creation. And there's two specific passages that are symbolically refer to Satan's initial expulsion from heaven. Literally he was speaking to the king of Babylon and Tyre. God spoke to them. There was a near fulfillment about what was happening on the earth at that time and a far fulfillment speaking of what we just read in Revelation chapter 12 that would lead to this heavenly battle one day.

So, if you're with me this morning, you're like, Pastor, I'm sort of tracking with you, but I don't understand how you're coming to these points of belief. How did you get there? Well, I'm really glad you're here this morning cuz we're going to look at it together. Open your Bible to Isaiah chapter 14, please. We're going to go back in the Old Testament. We're going to study this together here this morning. Isaiah chapter 14, we're going to look at verse 12. So, I don't I don't disagree in any way that this is also talking about a king of Babylon and or a king of Tyre.

Nobody nobody that handles the word of God can ever deny that God was speaking to mortals on this earth, but he is also and he calls him by name speaking about an immortal being Lucifer, a fallen angel. And we're going to see that this morning. So, uh Isaiah chapter 14 verse 12, please look at it with me. How you are fallen from heaven, oh Lucifer? Who are we talking about? Satan. Everybody with me? Nobody here can say oh that's taken out of context, Pastor. No, it's very very clear. Isaiah 14:12, how you are fallen from heaven, oh Lucifer, son of the morning?

How are you cut down to the ground? So, in one aspect God is telling us that he has been cut down to the ground. How he has been removed. Yet in Revelation chapter 12, we're told that there is another battle coming in heaven where Satan will be permanently removed. How can it be both ways? This is where it helps to know all of scripture or the entire council of God because if you didn't know this, maybe you thought back at the beginning before creation, maybe Satan was expelled from heaven at that point and he couldn't go back and forth and and maybe you were trying to always wrestle with that in your mind.

How does this all work? Well, this is talking about a time again before technically creation of the earth as we know it. How you are fallen from heaven, oh Lucifer, son of the morning? How you are cut down to the ground? You who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart, I will Count how many I will there are five, right? I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. This is all Lucifer saying this. On the farthest sides of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds.

I will be like the most high. And now God has his say. Oh no, Lucifer. You shall be brought down to Sheol to the lowest depths of the pit. No, I'm not giving you what you want. No, you're not taking my throne. I'm a conquering king. I think you misread the situation, Lucifer. I think you thought you actually were in control. You have never been in control. You've always been a lion on a leash, a leash in which God the Father has always controlled. So, he has a moment of a I'd like to call it a come to Jesus moment.

He has a come to Jesus moment with Lucifer right there. Those who see you will gaze at you and consider you saying is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook the kingdoms, who made the world as wilderness and destroyed the cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners? And 16 and 17 has been a passage that once I started reading my Bible, boy did it really speak to my heart. So often when I was younger, I I shared with first service. I'll share it with you openly. I I was afraid of the devil or the idea of the devil.

You know, I grew up in a Roman Catholic church and it's not got nothing to do with that. It just it means I I didn't understand all of these passages in Isaiah. I wasn't taught yet all those things. And so I didn't know that and And then you know like Hollywood and you you had the whole thing with remember the the pitchfork and the red suit and he looked like he had this tail and the whole thing. And I remember you know little movies like that and I had a vivid imagination. Oh I wanted nothing to do with it.

I was so afraid, you know? And what we're being told here in verse 16 and 17 is that anybody even in hell that's going to go to hell, those who reject Jesus Christ, they're going to look upon him and they're going to go you're it. You're the one that we were fearing like you, like like you know I don't know how many of you thought maybe he's this like you know big I don't have any other expression for that, a flex. You know, he's this big, you know, whatever and he's Look it. There's there's a balance to this.

We need to be careful. I should have said this. The Archangel Michael, when Lucifer was coming against him, said, you know what? Jesus deal with you. There should never be a Christian that 's walking out even in all authority that ever says, I'm going to go kick the devil in the teeth. I'm not going with you. All right, you you want to go on a mission trip and I'm going to kick the devil in teeth. You you have that. I'll be praying for you. I'm going to be with Jesus over here and I'm going to let Jesus go before me.

Because that's what I read in the holy scriptures is that even the Archangel Michael, who was over all of Israel, right? That was his command. He is the Archangel for Israel. And even he wouldn't go directly against Satan one-on-one, mono-on-mono. He says, no, I'll let Jesus deal with you, Satan. I don't need to do this.

Matt VanderVen: Always a good idea to let the Lord fight your battles with the enemy instead of trying to go at it alone. You're listening to Pastor Matt Vanderboegh on His Perfect Love. We're going through Revelation at the present time and I'll remind you that you can hear the program again when you visit His Perfect Love dot org. That's His Perfect Love dot org. We're also at one place dot com and look for us wherever you get your podcasts. We also offer a mobile app. This is a great way to take Pastor Matt's teachings with you on the go.

You can learn more about the mobile app and start your download when you visit our website His Perfect Love dot org. We can't thank you enough for your prayers for this ministry. Please pray that as God's word goes forth that lives will be greatly impacted for the glory of God and people would grow by his grace and love or even enter into a relationship with him. And if you have a prayer request, please send that our way. You can email that to us through our website at His Perfect Love dot org. And then join us next time when Pastor Matt will pick up where we left off in Revelation here on His Perfect Love.

Matt Vanderboegh: His Perfect Love is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Harrisburg West Shore.