Transformation class 01.29.2012

Chapter Twelve

January 29, 2012

Agenda

Thought for the Week

– Born for a New Focus

Review Chapter Eleven

Summary Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve Questions

Critical Thinking Questions

Born for a New Focus

The Law proved that no-one was able to keep the 10 Commandments by themselves.

The New Covenant is a new focus from self-effort to God’s empowering in us.

What happened when Adam (father of the human race) sinned?•He moved out of God-dependence into independence.

– This has been Mankind’s central problem ever since – self-centered focus...going it alone without God

A New Focus for Living

Through the Cross, Christ brings us back to a God center.

– This is our focus.

“Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them – living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God” Romans 8:5-7 (The Message).

The Old Focus is Death

The central focus of our old life was ourselves. Everything was not only for us in our thinking, but it was also by us

– By our own strength or ability things were accomplished. In trying to please God it was expressed in an unsuccessful struggle to obey His Commandments (read Romans chapter 7).

The Purpose of the LawThis is why God gave the Law (the Old Covenant). It was to reveal that you and I could not keep even the lowest expression of His righteousness.(Matthew 5:21-22; 27-28).

Mat 5:21 "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' Mat 5:22 I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

Mat 5:27 "You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' Mat 5:28 But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices--they also corrupt.

The Purpose of the Law

When we see in a mirror that our face is dirty we don’t use the mirror to make it clean but we go to another source –water – for cleansing. So it is with the Gospel. The Law was like a mirror to show that our lives were not clean. But it is through the Water of Life, Jesus, we are made clean.

The Galatians’ MistakePaul writes to the Galatian Christians, calling them “foolish” because, although they had come to God by faith in the work of Christ, they were trying to live as Christians by reverting to the old method of self-effort (read Galatians 3:1-3)

Paul says they had “fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4).

Galatians 3:1-3• Gal 3:1 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have

you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the Cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.

• Gal 3:2 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you?

• Gal 3:3 Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?

The Focus on God Daily

God’s enabling grace is constantly available to every believer. It is our faith and trust in Him every day that releases it.

“God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son…now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us” Romans 8:3-4 (The Message).

Questions?????

Which statement from the study do you feel is most significant for your life?

Chapter Eleven ReviewAs the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets continues, two

more visions are seen.

1 – Measuring the Temple of God• Told to measure the Temple and its occupants• Told not to measure the outer court

2 – The Two Witnesses• Prophesying for 1260 Days• Killed and Dead for three and a half days• Raised and Ascended to Heaven

The Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed• VICTORY PROCLAIMED • THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS WORSHIP GOD• THE TEMPLE OF GOD OPENED IN HEAVEN

Chapter Twelve Objectives

• To note the primary force behind the persecution that was about to come upon the early Christians

• To appreciate why the persecution of the early church was so intense

• John MacArthur - Chapters 6-11 describe the events of the Tribulation up to the sounding of the seventh trumpet; chapters 12-14 recapitulate that same period, describing events from Satan’s vantage point.

Chapter Twelve SummaryTHE WOMAN, THE CHILD, AND THE DRAGON (1-6)A. THE WOMAN WITH CHILD (1-2)1. A great sign appeared in heaven, in which woman is clothed:

a. With the sunb. With the moon under her feetc. A garland of twelve stars on her head

2. Being with child, she cried out in labor and pain to give birthBeing pregnant, the woman cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Just like a pregnant woman in labor feels pain, so the nation of Israel was in pain, waiting for Messiah to come forth. The cause of some of the pain is the persecution by Satan, who attempts to destroy the mother.

B. THE DRAGON READY TO DEVOUR THE CHILD (3-4)1. Another great sign appeared in heaven: a great, fiery red dragon

a. With seven heads, ten horns, seven crowns on the heads– Rev 17:9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman (harlot)

sits, (kingdoms) – Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he

must remain a little while. – Rev 17:11 "The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to

destruction. – Rev 17:12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive

authority as kings with the beast for one hour. – Rev 17:13 "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

b. With a tail which threw a third of the stars of heaven to the earth2. Standing before the woman, ready to devour the child as soon as it is born

Chapter Twelve SummaryTHE WOMAN, THE CHILD, AND THE DRAGON (1-6)

C. THE OUTCOME OF THE CHILD AND THE WOMAN (5-6)1. The male child is born

a. Who was to rule all nations with a rod of ironb. Who was caught up to God and His throne

2. The woman fled into the wildernessa. Where she has a place prepared by Godb. Where she is fed for 1,260 days

Chapter Twelve Summary

II. SATAN THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN (7-12)A. A WAR IN HEAVEN (7-9)1. Between Michael and his angels, and the dragon and his angels2. The dragon and his angels did not prevail

a. No place was found for them in heaven any longerb. The dragon and his angels were cast to the earthc. The dragon identified

1) That serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan2) Who deceives the whole world


II. SATAN THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN (7-12)B. A LOUD VOICE IN HEAVEN (10-12)1. Proclaiming victory for Christ and His brethren

a. Salvation, strength, the kingdom of God, and the power of Christ have come

1) For the accuser of the brethren has been cast down2) Who had accused them before God day and night

b. How the brethren overcame the accuser:1) By the blood of the Lamb2) By the word of their testimony3) They did not love their lives to the death

2. A call to rejoice, along with a warninga. For those in heaven, rejoice!b. For the inhabitants of the earth and sea, woe!

1) For the devil has come down to them having great wrath2) Knowing that he has only a short time


III. THE FAILED ATTEMPT TO PERSECUTE THE WOMAN (13-17)A. THE DRAGON'S ATTEMPT TO PERSECUTE THE WOMAN (13-16)1. Cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child2. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle

a. That she might fly into the wilderness to her placeb. Where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a timec. Safe from the presence of the serpent

3. The serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman

a. Hoping to cause her to be carried awayb. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing up

the flood


III. THE FAILED ATTEMPT TO PERSECUTE THE WOMAN (13-17)B. THE DRAGON'S INTENT TO PERSECUTE HER OFFSPRING (17)1. Enraged with the woman he cannot reach, the dragon goes to make war with the rest of her offspring2. The rest of her offspring identified:

a. Those who keep the commandments of Godb. Those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ


Chapter 12 tells us that Satan was the primary force behind the persecution that was about to befall God's people.

We are told of his failed attempt to prevent the male Child from being born and assuming His rightful place of authority as ruler of the nations (1-6).

An effort to seize that authority by waging war in heaven is thwarted, resulting in the devil and his angels being cast to earth.

That prompts a loud voice in heaven to proclaim that salvation, strength, the kingdom of God and the power of His Christ has come.

Chapter Twelve SummaryBecause the accuser (i.e., the devil) has been cast down, those in heaven who overcame by the blood of Jesus and their testimony, and who did not love their lives to the death, could rejoice.

But woe is proclaimed to those on the earth, because now the devil has come down to them and he knows his time is short (7-12).

At first the dragon's efforts are directed toward the woman who gave birth to the child. However, she is given wings to fly to her place in the wilderness where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time (1,260 days, cf. v.6).

Even the earth helped the woman, so enraging the dragon that he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, identified as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (13-17).

Review Questions for Chapter Twelve

1) What are the main points of this chapter?

- The woman, the child, and the dragon (1-6)

- Satan thrown out of heaven (7-12)- The failed attempt to persecute the woman (13-17)

2) What great sign appeared in heaven? (1-2)

- A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars

- Being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth

3) What other sign then appeared in heaven (3-4)

- A great fiery read dragon, with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads

- Whose tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth

- Who stood before the woman, ready to devour her child as soon as it was born


4) What child was born? What happened to the child? (5)

- A male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron

- He was caught up to God and His throne

5) What happened to the woman? (6)

- She fled to the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God

- She was fed for 1,260 days

6) What happened in heaven? Who did not prevail? (7-8)

- War broke out between Michael and his angels and the dragon and his angels

- The dragon and his angels

7) Who was this dragon? What was done with him and his angels? (9)

- The serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world

- They were cast out of heaven


8) What did a loud voice proclaim in heaven about Christ and the dragon? (10)

- Salvation, strength, the kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ has come

- The accuser of our brethren, who accused them before God day and night, has been cast down

9) How had the brethren overcome the dragon? (11)

- By the blood of the Lamb

- By the word of their testimony

- By not loving their lives to the death

10) What are those who dwell in heaven told? (12)

- To rejoice


11) Why was woe proclaimed to the inhabitants of the earth and sea? (12)- For the devil with great wrath has come down to them- For he knows he only has a short time

12) Cast down to the earth, who did the dragon persecute next? (13)- The woman who gave birth to the male child

13) What was given the woman? Why? (14)- Two wings of a great eagle- To fly into the wilderness to her place, from the presence of the serpent

14) How long was she nourished? (14)- A time, times, and a half of time


15) How did the serpent try to persecute the woman? Who helped her? (15-16)

- By spewing water out of his mouth, to carry her away by the flood- The earth, by opening its mouth and swallowing up the flood

16) Enraged by his inability to persecute the woman, who did the dragon go to make war with next? (17)

- The rest of her offspring- Those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus

Christ

Resources Used

• Mark Copeland

• http://executableoutlines.com/back.htm

• Collins Family

• http://www.onlinebiblecollege.com/site/

http://executableoutlines.com/back.htm

Spiritual

Transformation class 01.29.2012