THE LION KING: OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD {PART 2}
REV. 12:17 – 14:5
Sermon Objective: Satan’s intention is to deceive and savage the inhabitants of the earth; his rule is grotesque depleting whereas the rule of Christ (Kingdom of God) brings fullness and wholeness.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 3; Proverbs 14:34; John 8:44; John 10:10; Romans 12:21; 1 John 4:19; Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10;
>>Begin with a “Resurrection Story Video” from nazarenemedialibrary.org<<
REV. 12:17 – 14:5
In order to understand chapter 13 you must understand chapter 12 which exposes the strategy and motivation of the evil one; Satan. You will notice there is no break between chapter 12 and 13 … just a new paragraph that progresses the story of the dragon.
Rev. 12:17Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Rev. 13:1And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
5The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
9He who has an ear, let him hear.10If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
11Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
18This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
Rev. 14:1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
SERMON INTRO
Allow me to take a few minutes and recap last week’s sermon.
We are looking at the power of the Gospel to enrich our lives whereas the plot of evil is to bring devastation and ruin.
Last week I told you about a pastor friend of mine who gave some simple solid advice to a young man. Do you remember what that four word advice was?
Can you say that with me? “DEVIL BAD. GOD GOOD.”
+++++++
I also told you that I found a good comparison of the church’s tendency to live below its blessed position in Christ much like Simba, the young Lion King did in the Disney movie. Simba, once he realized he was the king and overcame his fear and guilt, was able to drive out the hyenas that had devastated the plains and assumed the throne (Pride Rock). By assuming his rightful role and taking responsibility prosperity returned to the land. Order and harmony were restored.
When evil reigns so does chaos and destruction. But when righteousness reigns prosperity and blessing do too.
Simba is a good illustration of Jesus’ church. Often we, like the young Lion King, fail to recognize our position and inheritance. We fail to grasp that we are “A Kingdom of priests”; destined, and given a duty that brings peace and restoration.
Rev. 1:6 says, “And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Rev. 5:10 says, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
When the evil Hyena rules … things are bad. When God rules … things prosper.
Proverbs 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
Would you say it with me again? “DEVIL BAD. GOD GOOD.”
In chapter 13 we get a glimpse of the havoc that is wreaked whenever evil reigns.
In contrast we can see (later in the book) the blessings and goodness that the Kingdom of God offers. By way of comparison, we are asking ourselves a simple question: “What does evil look like?”
So far we have discovered:
EVIL IS COUNTERFEIT & SUPERFICIAL (3, 13-15
• Like the young lion king Simba who was content to squander his life away in the jungle with Timon and Pumbaa, the church is vulnerable to play at religion thinking somehow this is all there is to God when His life consists of so much more!
• Chapter 13 illustrates a few principles for us:
• Everything Satan is not … God is. Everything God is … Satan tries to counterfeit.
• Evil will come disguised as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and will offer things that appear to be substantial and valuable. But it is all dust … it is all a mirage … a pipe dream! It is a counterfeit way of meeting a legitimate need within you but once you have drank from hat well you will still be left thirsty.
EVIL RELIES ON FEAR (V. 4)
• Like the young lion king Simba, the church will choose the wrong course of action when it works from fear. It will become reactive rather than proactive.
• Fear evokes superstition not faith. It makes us do things in hopes of affecting / coercing a certain outcome. That’s not faith. Faith trusts – fear works.
• God does not motivate us with fear.
• The Bible says, “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18, KJV)
EVIL MANIPULATES AND DECEIVES (V. 4, 13-14)
• Like the young lion king Simba, the church will choose the wrong course of action when it is deceived.
• Deception is Satan’s tool of persuasion to “dethrone” us and take up residence of Pride Rock.
• In another book John wrote (The Gospel of John 8:44) he quotes Jesus describing the devil and his followers: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it”
SERMON
WHAT DOES EVIL LOOK LIKE?
Evil is counterfeit & superficial (3, 13-15
Evil relies on fear (v. 4)
Evil manipulates and deceives (v. 4, 13-14)
EVIL TAKES, ENSLAVES, AND ABUSES (V.5; 15-17)
Like in “The Lion King,” when evil gains control it robs God’s people of their intended destiny and strips the world of peace and divine freedom.
Have you ever noticed that sin always demands something from you? It never leaves you more whole or more healthy; it deprives you and steals from you.
In John’s Gospel (John 8:34) he quotes Jesus who says “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”
I remember a sermon I heard decades ago. The outline is famous and you may have heard it too.
SIN TAKES YOU FURTHER THAN YOU WANT TO GO
SIN KEEPS YOU LONGER THAN YOU WANT TO STAY
SIN COSTS YOU MORE THAN YOU WANT TO PAY
How many people have been trapped by alcohol, sexual impurity, greed, materialism, or their own egos? Somehow thinking their deeds were controllable or innocent until time passed and they got a glimpse of the ruin in their wake.
Sin always leaves casualties! It never leaves you better off. Sadly, many times we do not recognize it until the damage is done.
Francis Schaeffer used the description “the glorious ruin” to describe what evil has done to this world. He used the apt metaphor of an old soiled painting. No one was certain who the artist had been, but so much about the painting seemed to indicate that it was done by a genuine master, someone with superb gifts. It was eventually taken to an expert who lifted the stains, unsullied the canvas, examined distinctive brush strokes, analysed the style, discovered the time period and so on. After careful scrutiny, he was able to declare who the artist was beyond any doubt, even though the work was now in ruins. So, too, when we think carefully about the unique qualities of this creature we call 'woman' or 'man', we can find ample evidence of the handiwork of some great Artist.
This leads me to my next identity mark of evil:
What does evil look like?
Evil is counterfeit & superficial (3, 13-15
Evil relies on fear (v. 4)
Evil manipulates and deceives (v. 4, 13-14)
Evil takes, enslaves, and abuses (v.5; 15-17)
EVIL KILLS / DESTROYS (V. 7, 17-18)
Like in “The Lion King,” evil’s objective is nothing short of eliminating the presence of goodness in the land.
In John’s Gospel (10:10) Jesus is quoted as saying “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
In chapter 9 evil is given a name. “They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.”
Both of these names mean “destroyer.”
One writer said it like this: “Satan delight is to smash, to mangle, to twist, to mutilate, to disfigure, to darken and blast in every way he can. It does not make any difference whether it is bodies or souls, flesh or ideas, matter or spirit, the aim of the devil is exactly the same in every case: It is to distort, to blast, to twist, to destroy.”
Ruined relationships, ruined economies, ruined lands, ruined lives – evil relishes in each of them. It brings misery to God’s creation and distorts his desire for humankind.
His ultimate goal is to drag everyone of us to Hell … for us to join him in the impending “second death.”
WRAP-UP
What does evil look like?
Evil is counterfeit & superficial (3, 13-15
Evil relies on fear (v. 4)
Evil manipulates and deceives (v. 4, 13-14)
Evil takes, enslaves, and abuses (v.5; 15-17)
Evil kills (v. 7, 17-18)
EVIL’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED! (CHAPTERS 14-22)
Like in “The Lion King,” eventually evil will be overthrown by the rightful and sovereign King!!!!!
Evil has an expiration date! It appears to be in control … but its days are numbered.
Did you notice how the tone of the text changed when we moved from chapter 13 into chapter 14? A casual reading even reveals a different tone when the focus moves from the power of evil to those who “had been redeemed from the earth.”
From chapter 14 onward we learn that evil’s days of ruling and ravaging are numbered. When the lamb and the redeemed join hand in hand in chapter 14, evil comes tumbling down!
I found myself reading William Wilberforce’s speeches to the British parliament the other day; particularly his speeches to abolish the slave trade. I was struck by the tenacity, patience, and confidence that he showed. He was convinced that this evil would eventually be halted and refused to give up. He was convinced that it had an expiration date.
Wilberforce, over a period of years and amidst much opposition, fought to have slavery abolished by presenting a number of bills to the British Parliament.
He began his quest in 1791. But the first sign of achievement did not occur until 1871.
Wilberforce continued his push for full abolition until the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 declared slavery illegal and ensured slaves would be freed, or paid and later completely freed.
The final abolition did not occur until a month after his death.
I cannot predict when (no one can, if they tell you they can they are either lying or deluded) but Jesus will bring resolution. It may be through His second coming or it may be through his vindication of the righteous; but evil will be addressed. The Bible teaches this from cover to cover. It is the core premise of “The Revelation” … evil will not win! Righteousness will prevail.
Look at the following verses from Proverbs:
Proverbs 10:30 - The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
Proverbs 11:5 - The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
Proverbs 11:21 - Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
Proverbs 12:7 - Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
Proverbs 14:11 - The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
Proverbs 21:12 - The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
THE TYRANNY OF EVIL BRINGS DESOLATION, DEVASTATION, DESPERATION, AND DESTRUCTION. You can see it in our world on a personal and global scale. It is alive and well on planet earth. But whether it resides in a government, an institution, a corporation, or a human heart it will come face to face with the brunt reality of a living and holy God.
Say it with me once more: “DEVIL BAD. GOD GOOD.”
Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
When Simba realized who he was (and what he was destined to do) he courageously restored the land to prosperity and wholeness.
SATAN DREADS NOTHING MORE THAN FOR CHRIST’S CHURCH TO REALIZE ITS DESTINY, AUTHORITY, INHERITANCE, AND POWER. He knows it will change the way we live and serve. When Jesus’ church realizes that our lives are the ongoing evidence of the resurrection and that by living out that resurrection we bring fullness and wholeness to our world it will begin to offer redemption, justice, healing, reclaiming of peace, and reconciliation.
We should end our sermon this morning as this letter (The Revelation) ends …
Rev. 22:12-20
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” … AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS.
++++++++++++++++
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene, Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
