Turn with me to the book of Revelation
chapter 17. Before we begin this morning
in asking the Lord's blessing upon the preaching, hearing of
His Word, I'd like to make an announcement. Brother Don Fortner
sent out a notice. I put it on the bulletin board
if you would be so interested. Brother Tom Harding from Pikeville,
Kentucky, has been changing over a lot of the cassette tapes that
Brother Henry Mayhand had preached over the years. And there's a
As of this point, he's gotten about 500 of them done, the messages
that Brother Henry preached from, I think it said 1972 to 1976.
And they're in the process of changing over all these. We're
also trying to do this. We've been working on this for
quite a while between Fred and Glenda and Linda and Robin and
these others that have put in a tremendous amount of time and
effort. We're trying to take Brother
Scott's messages from the beginning and taking them and changing
them also over to CDs because the cassettes will eventually
just not work anymore. So we're going through a time
period of trying to get those changed over and then we'll,
Lord willing, have something that will be more permanent than
the cassettes. Technology, you know how that
is. It's just always over. But I'm very thankful for what
Brother Harding has done in changing over. I know there's been a lot
of us involved. I told Fred this morning, I had
no idea the massive job that it is changing all this over,
the technology that it takes to, you know, you think it wouldn't
be any big deal. Well, it's a big deal, and I
appreciate everything everybody's doing. Revelation chapter 17,
this morning I would like to to deal with verses 7 to 10,
and I've entitled this, The Mind Which Hath Wisdom. But before
we go into this Scripture, let's pray together. Our Heavenly Father,
we ask You collectively, Lord, to bless this morning, our hearing. Bless, we pray, the preaching
of Your Gospel, and for the blessed privilege and honor that we have
to be able to be here. We are so thankful, thankful
that You'd give us a heart and a mind that would desire to want
to come and hear Your Word. Teach us, we pray. We are Your
people, Lord, given a heart by Your Spirit, and we ask Your
blessings. upon this service this morning,
for Christ's sake. Amen. Revelation 17. In our last study, John had seen
the woman, that is, Mystery Babylon, the Great, the Mother, the Scripture
says in verse 5 Revelation 17, of all harlots and abominations
of the earth. And she, the Scripture revealed,
was drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood
of the martyrs of Jesus Himself. And she was viewed by John in
astonishment as he marveled at the disgusting way that she was
being amused. The Scripture sets forth, the
word is actually satiated, which means excessively attempting
to gratify herself without any satisfaction really being found
on the blood of the saints. She just, the Scripture reveals,
now remember, chapter 16 of this book told us that the great harlot,
the great whore of false religion was, shall be judged. She's being judged and she shall
be judged. Now this chapter, 17, 18 into
19. tells us why God has done what
He's done. This great harlot is being revealed
to God's people, not in the way that people think that she is,
but the way she truly is, that is, false religion. We look around
and we see places where the gospel of free grace is not being preached. And the reason that it's not
being preached in all places is because God has not raised
it up in all places. That's the reason. No one takes
it upon themselves to decide one day, I'm going to just start
preaching the gospel. God calls a man. and gives him a heart and teaches
him the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he proclaims Christ
in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, the Scripture says
in verse 7, after John in verse 6 had wondered with great admiration,
and the angel in verse 7 said unto me, Wherefore didst thou
marvel? I will tell thee the mystery
of the woman, and of the beast that carried her, which hath
the seven heads and ten horns, the beast that thou sawest was,
and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and
go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth
shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life,
from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast. that
was, and is not, and yet is. And here is the mind which hath
wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains
on which the woman sitteth, and there are seven kings. Five are
fallen, and one is, the other is not yet come, and when he
cometh he must continue a short space." Now, as John looked,
upon this vision. And this was a vision that was
given John the Apostle by the Lord Jesus Christ. And as he
looked upon this vision and he saw this great harlot, he looked
upon her, the Scripture says, in astonishment. And the angel
asked John something, Wherefore didst thou marvel? How is it
The angel said, how is it that you, John, marvel in astonishment? He said, I'll tell you. I'll
give you the meaning of the woman and the beast that carried her. There are many things I know
in the Scriptures that are unrevealed. I understand that. There are
certain things that we look at and we behold We search after
and we seek after. There are some things that the
Lord has just not been pleased to tell us completely. But there
are some things that are. And this angel said, I'll tell
you. I'll tell you the mystery. You see, you, John, and those
like you who've been called out of darkness are not left to wonder. concerning God's judgment upon
all that opposes Him, or about the character of the great harlot,
the great whore." Mystery Babylon. John, God has been pleased to
not leave you in darkness and to give you some understanding
of what is actually going on. The angel says, the beast, in
verse 8, that thou sawest, was and is not and shall ascend out
of the bottomless pit and shall go into perdition." Now, remember,
this beast that John is looking at is actually described. We would go back and we would
see where John saw two beasts coming out. One of them came
out of the sea. And remember, we looked and we realized that
the sea is symbolic of this world and its governments. This great
beast that is actually the means that empowers this governmental,
beastly opposition to God's people is empowered by Satan himself. So John looked and he saw this
beast, he wondered about it, and it says, the beast was. In the explanation, the beast
that thou sawest, was, or that is to say, was at one time very
evident, or it was openly known. Now, think for just a minute
and realize that as John is getting this understanding given to him
by this angel, and you know that this beast is actually tied in
with this world's governments that is in opposition, open opposition,
to God's people. He says that this beast that
you're marveling at, it was. Now, there was a time when we
read about in the Scriptures when there were governments that
were openly in opposition to God's people. They singled out
openly. I keep using that openly because
we're going to see in just a minute that it may not openly be evident
right now, but it's still there. But openly, we can go back in
the book of Exodus and we can find out where there was a country,
a nation called Egypt that was openly in rebellion against God's
people. The Lord Himself allowed providentially,
because when we realize that all things, all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called, according
to His purpose. So when Egypt had Israel, God's
people, in captivity, do you think that that was outside of
the will of Almighty God? That God was somehow, oh man,
they got in captivity and the Lord... No. God Almighty allowed them to
do exactly what they wanted to do to His glory and to their
good. He would deliver them. But it
doesn't change the fact that Egypt was a country, a nation,
that actually held in captivity by God's purpose and God's will,
God's people. Well, there was a country called
Babylon. You remember, you go back and
you can read Daniel and all these. There was a nation that God Almighty
allowed. There was Assyria and there was
Rome. There were times In the history of the saints, obvious
national oppression and persecution against God's people was so. So when this angel told John,
he said, I'll tell you the mystery of this beast. This beast was,
or was at one time openly evident. But, he said, he is not. Well, the period of is not, as
I said a moment ago, doesn't mean that the beast of this world's
governmental hatred of God's people in the way that this world
is, it's in opposition to Almighty God and His people. It doesn't
mean when it says that this beast was not or is not. It doesn't
mean that it doesn't exist, but it means that it doesn't openly
nationally now exist. It's not an open confrontation
that's taking place by countries that are against God's people
at this time. Turn back to Revelation 13. Now, we read this, studied this
a while back, but let's go back and look at a few verses right
here. Revelation 13. It says, John
saw, I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise
out of the sea." Now, remember, we looked at the word sea and
realized that the Scriptures revealed that the sea is a picture
of this world. The Lord says that the kingdom
of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea. And it
was drawn in and all that which was good, that which God looked
upon in the person of Christ, as being good for Christ's sake,
was kept and put into vessels. And all that which was evil was
thrown back into the sea. God Almighty left a man, left
a woman to themselves. So the sea is a picture of this
world and all that's involved with it. I stood on the sand
of the sea, saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven
heads, ten horns upon his horns, ten crowns upon his head, the
name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was
likened to a leopard, his feet were as the feet of a bear, his
mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave him power
in his seat and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as
it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed,
and all the world wondered after the beast." Now, you see the
correlations talking about here. Everybody's wondering. The angel
had just asked, John, why are you wondering? I'll tell you
what's going on. But when it says, I saw one of
its heads as it were wounded, it means that it just appeared
as though that it was put to death. That's what it was. It
appears as though if you look at your reference there in the
middle, if you have one, that word wounded is slain as it were
slain. Now, that period that it's talking
about, that deadly wound, It means that there appeared to
be a suspension of this manifestation of the beast's true character. It seems to be a time when open
persecution on a grand scale, let me say this, has ceased. John said, this beast that you
saw, he was and is not, or that means It is not an open manifestation. But the angel revealing to John
back in Revelation 17 the nature of this great beast, this whore
upon whom the great whore is riding, this world's government
that is in opposition to God's people, he says, he shall ascend
out of the bottomless pit. Now, we read that again. Just
a moment ago in Revelation 13, verse 3, it says, ìHis deadly
wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast.î
Now the Scripture reveals that the open persecution of Godís
people shall not always be a thing of the past. I mean, we look
now and we enjoy that right now. We have a blessed privilege this
morning. to be able to be here. And we're
thankful for that. I'm thankful that the Lord in
His infinite mercy and grace has allowed us the privilege
to be here. But this world, it wasn't always
like this. It wasn't always where there
was freedom as we enjoy freedom. It does not mean that that opposition
is not there. But it's Almighty God has been
pleased for a while to allow us the privilege to have what
the Scripture reveals through this angel to John, the beast
that was and is not, there is a wound. And it appears as though
that that wound has just caused there to be not an open opposition
as there once was in Egypt and Babylon and Rome. But, the Scripture
says, he shall go. into perdition concerning that
beast that the Lord has powerfully used for His glory and for the
good of His elect, that beast shall go into perdition. He shall be led under, the Scripture
is saying. So going into perdition or to
ruin or lost shortly because he is doomed immediately after
his open revival. Now John was asked again in that
seventh verse, wherefore did you marvel? Why did you stand
in astonishment? There is not a believer in this
room tonight or this morning that this could not be said to.
Why do we think that things that Almighty God has revealed are
not going to come to pass. Why do we think? Why do you look
in astonishment and you look around and you see where the
gospel of God's free grace is not being preached? Why do you
look and think that's no big deal? It is a big deal. It is open rebellion against
Almighty God. Wherefore did you marvel? The angel asked. Why did you
stand there? Is there room to wonder in God's
people? No. Almighty God has said, this
is the character of the great whore. She is a rebel against
Almighty God. Don't tolerate her. Don't put
up with her. Why did you marvel? Now that
word marvel, in verse 7, Wherefore didst thou marvel? And the word
wonder in verse 8, it says, And they that go into perdition and
now dwell on the earth shall wonder whose name. That word
actually has its root of being the same word. But marvel in
verse 7 pertaining to God's people, it actually means astonished
And wonder, in verse 8, means to admire. Now, you think about
it. This world, all those left to
themselves, looks upon false religion and admires it and thinks,
we're all working for the same thing. I understand that we're,
you know, different spokes of the same wheel, but really the
hub where everything comes out of. We all have the same thoughts. We're all working for the same
thing. A believer knows better than
that. Why did you wonder? Why did you
marvel at the revelation of the beast who was and is not and
shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition? Who? Since John was actually
questioned about his marveling, who shall admire this beast? I'll tell you who shall. The
Scripture says, they that dwell on the earth shall wonder. They shall admire whose names
were not written in the book of life from the foundation of
the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and
yet is. God's church in this world is
an elect, redeemed, and sealed church whose names the Scriptures
say were written in Christ, the Book of Life Himself from the
foundation of this world. He is the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world, so the sheep have always been looked
upon in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, looked
upon by Almighty God in favor. Has God Himself always loved
His people? Has there ever been a time when
God did not love His people? No. He says, I have loved you
with an everlasting love. Psalm 117 says, For the righteous
Lord loveth righteousness. His countenance doth behold the
upright. If God says, I have loved you
with an everlasting love, and He loves righteousness, He has
always loved those that He has looked upon in the person of
His dear Son, being in Him the righteous, the sheep. Always
looked upon Him. Psalm 45, verse 7, Thou loveth
righteousness and hateth wickedness. God Almighty has never changed,
never changed, since the Lord has loved His people with an
everlasting love, chose them in their eternal surety, the
Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world, who has forever
answered for them. The question would be this, has
God ever looked upon His people in any other way than the way
that He sees them now? Has He ever looked upon them? The Scripture I just quoted,
Malachi 3, 6, answers that. For I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore, ye sons of Jacob,
those of you who I have looked upon in favor, and set my affection
on. Jacob have I loved." Those two
brothers right there represent every person that has ever lived
in this world. They are either looked upon as
being in the type of Jacob or in the type of Esau. Jacob have
I loved. Esau have I hated. I've heard
someone say, well, that doesn't mean hate. Look the word up and
tell me what it means. I can tell you what it means.
It means hate. Hate. That's the explanation
of the word. Jacob have I loved everlastingly. He loved his people with an everlasting
love, therefore he chose them. What was the electing grace of
God? What was God's election based
upon? His love. He said, I've loved
you with an everlasting love, therefore, I chose you. Eternally chosen. In the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world
at Calvary, the fulfillment of the atonement was made, the debt
was paid, and repentance and forgiveness, or remission, is
granted. As I said last week, I think
it was, We talk of forgiveness as if that is something that
we must ask for before it is granted. You that believe, be
thankful that forgiveness is not based upon your ability to
be able to ask God the depth of that which you need. The remission
of sin. Forgiveness of sin. I don't know
what to ask for. Remission, forgiveness is given
based totally on the merit of the Lord Jesus Christ. God Almighty
loved His people and chose them in a surety. That surety paid
their debt in full, gave them a righteousness and Almighty
God for Christ's sake, not for your sake, not for my sake, and
not for your ability to ask or my ability to ask, for Christ's
sake. Salvation is by grace, all of
grace, totally grace, and there is nothing in this world that
I can do that adds one iota to the efficacy of that which He
has done. Salvations of the Lord totally
of the Lord, and all that wonder. John, why are you wondering about
this? The beast that thou sawest was
and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit. They that
dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written
in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when
they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. It is
a marvelous thing. It is a marvelous thing to behold
and to see. Here is the mind, verse 9, the
angel says. Here is the mind which hath wisdom. Here is that which the enlightened
mind seeks, the angel says. In Daniel 12.10, the Scripture
says many shall be purified. That's a word that means something
shall be done to them, for them. They shall be purified. "...and
made white and tried. But the wicked shall do wickedly,
and none of the wicked shall understand. But the wise shall
understand. Here is the mind which hath wisdom,"
the angel said. The seven kings, of the seven
heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth." Now
here, the angel said, here is the understanding of this world's
governments being the means by which, by God's exact permission,
that this great harlot sits upon, rides upon. The seven heads are
actually seven kings. is what that word means, are
seven mountains on which the woman sits. Now, I don't doubt
for a second the illusion, and I've read the explanation of
the seven heads or seven mountains on which the woman sits. I know
that many have related that Rome sits on seven hills, and that's
probably true. I don't doubt that, but I don't
doubt the illusion made concerning the city of Rome being that illusion
that's made here. But surely there's more significance
to this Scripture right here than focusing only on the false
church of Roman Catholicism. I came up in a... I was Roman Catholic first, and
then I came over and then I was Southern Baptist. And then I
just, you know, kind of flounced around this, that, and the other.
There's absolutely no difference whatsoever. There's only two
messages that's being preached today. Grace or works. And it does not matter what it
looks like. You know, when we read last week,
and it was talking about the Tower of Babel, and it was talking
about, and they said, you know, we'll build us a tower. unto
heaven, and the Lord confounded their speech, and they couldn't
understand one another. You know, and this one said to
this one something, and this one says, I don't hear what you're
saying because you don't talk the same language I'm doing.
You don't see salvation the way I see it. We don't say the same
thing, and the Scripture says, and they are saying the same
thing. They all came out of the same hole, out of the same pit. Therefore, the Scripture is revealing
that these seven heads, or these seven kings, are actually seven
mountains. Now, the word mountain there
means to rise or to rear up. And the illusion I gave last
week, I said something about this, as a mountain is prominent
as to its surrounding terrain. These seven mountains are actually
seven kingdoms that are prominent seats of power, seven mountains,
kingdoms that are dominant compared to other kingdoms. You look at
the United States. I mean, that's a pretty prominent,
you know, but just take one of the countries down in South America
or something like that. That's a country too, you know,
but this country is a Prominent. That's what this word mountain
means. It means a prominent place within
the surrounding area. Turn with me to Isaiah 40. Let
me show you something about this. I want us to have a good understanding
of these words. Isaiah 40. Isaiah 40, verse 3 to 4. The Scripture says, of him that
crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall
be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and
the crooked shall be straight, and the rough places plain."
Now do you think that that is talking about just a mountain?
Well, let's turn over to Isaiah 41, verse 15. Turn over the page
there. Isaiah 41, verse 15. Behold, I make thee a new sharp
threshing instrument, having teeth. Thou shalt thresh the
mountains, and beat them small, and shall make the hills as chaff. The Scripture says in Ezekiel,
35 let me just read this to you. Ezekiel 35 to Son of Man set
thy face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it. Mount Seir
is actually interpreted the Edomites. Mount Seir. But for the best
scripture that I can find to set forth what this word mountain
is actually talking about. Jeremiah 51. Jeremiah 51. Verse 24, Jeremiah 51, verse 24, I will render unto
Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that
they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord. Behold,
I am against thee, O destroying mountain. saith the Lord which
destroyeth all the earth, I will stretch out mine hand upon thee,
and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain."
Now who was he talking to? Babylon. He was talking to Babylon. A picture here of that which
is in rebellion against Almighty God. Now Babylon was geographically
in a plane. I mean, you know, they're over
there fighting. I mean, look at these pictures
where, you know, you ever see these trucks going along these
roads here over in Iraq? That's where Babylon is. Now,
geographically, the city itself, the geographical city of Babylon
is in a flat plain. But the Scripture here refers
to Babylon as the mountain. I'm against you, O mountain,
Babylon. So this mountain that the Scripture
is talking about back in Revelation chapter 17, here is the mind
which hath wisdom. The seven heads are actually
seven mountains or prominent areas of rebellion. And the Scripture
says in verse 10, And there are seven kings, five are fallen,
one is, the other is not yet to come, and when he cometh he
must continue. a short space. Now, the word
kings, there is actually a word that is translated an individual
king. It means king. That's what it
means, an individual. But it's one that I believe is
actually representing the kingdom over which he rules. For example,
when we think of Pharaoh, we talk about Pharaoh. And Pharaoh
would not let, well, immediately we think about the kingdom of
Egypt. over which he ruled." So these
seven kings, or their seven heads, which are actually seven mountains,
are prominent areas of rebellion that are seated in rebellion
against Almighty God. Now, the angel told John, here's
the explanation of what you're looking at of this great beast.
Five of them at the time that John wrote the Scripture. Here,
the revelation, five of them were fallen. Five of them had
failed or five of them had disappeared, either prominent rulers who had
died or been dethroned or their dynasties had been ceased. They just weren't there anymore.
Now, whether or not, and here's another thing that we've got
to be very careful about. I do not doubt. that the countries
that I was talking about, Egypt, Syria, Babylon, Persia, those
countries, I don't doubt that they could be referred to right
here. But we have to be very, very
careful when we start saying, now that was the exact country
that was being spoken of right now. I don't know that. All I do know is that the Scripture
says that there was five kings, five mountains, five of them
that had already fallen. Whether or not I'm able to exactly
interpret what the Scripture doesn't reveal, that's a very
scary place to be. But whatever God said that those
five mountains, those five kings, whoever God said that they were,
that's who they were. Now, whether or not I'm able
to say, you know, because Men can get awfully proud and just
say, well, I'll tell you who that is. That's Hitler. As I said, be very cautious.
But what I'm telling you is this. This angel is revealing to John
who God said these five mountains were. Five of them are fallen. Five prominent kingdoms already
fallen. And then the Scripture says,
and one is. Now, John is on the Isle of Patmos. Don't be amazed. Don't marvel,
John. I'll tell you, those that are
going to admire this beast right here are those whose names were
not written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of
the world. I'm going to tell you who they
are. These seven kings, five are fallen and one is. John,
as I said, was on the Isle of Patmos. The obvious thought The
kingdom that was in open rebellion against God's people at the time
that John was on the Isle of Patmos was Rome. I could assume that that's who
he's talking about. I'm probably pretty sure that's
who he was talking about. But again, whoever this king
or kingdom was, this head or this mountain, whoever it was,
It's who God says it was. It seems to be that it was. And one is probably the kingdom
of Rome that was existing. But then the Scripture says,
and the other is not yet come, or it hasn't appeared to be as
it really is. I believe that this passage right
here probably is corresponding with verse 8 that says, The beast
that thou sawest was and it is not apparent yet. Now, this deadly wound that we
read about over in Revelation 13-3 makes the king or the kingdom
to appear at this time to be dead. But remember, that wound,
the Scripture said, is going to be healed. It's going to be
a revival of somebody. that's going to be raised up
in open rebellion against God's people. But when He cometh, the
Scripture says in the last part of verse 10, He must continue
a short space. That means in the relationship
to the others that have reigned before Him. Who is it? I don't know. What country is
it? Is it this one? Is it this? I
don't know. But don't marvel. Don't be amazed,
the angel says. All of this is according to God's
almighty purpose. When He cometh, here is the omniscience
of our mighty God who surely has declared. He who knows the
end from the beginning sets forth the certainty of this seventh
King. He said He will. He'll come.
And he must continue, the angel revealed to the apostle John. God's purpose and His will and
His glory necessitates the remaining of the reign, the temporary reign
of this seventh king. And the mercy of our God shall
be seen in the midst of whatever comes our way, whatever tribulation,
whatever chastisement, It's for the good of the sheep. And it's
for the glory of Almighty God. Don't be amazed when we look
around and we see whatever. We watch stuff on television. I can't believe they're doing
that! Well, I can. Almighty God is declaring. Don't
marvel. The justice of Almighty God. shall be seen." The Scripture
says that he must continue a short space, a puny space is what that
word is, a short space, just puny in its extent, puny in its
degree, puny in its value. Without a doubt, we are promised
in this life persecution. They that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer. To what extent are we going to
suffer? I don't know. I really don't
know. But I can tell you this. Turn
over to Romans 8. Romans chapter 8. Here's a blessed,
blessed passage. Romans chapter 8. Let's read
verses 28 to the end of the chapter, and we'll close. Paul says, under the inspiration
of the Spirit of God, and we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are called according
to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
He did predestinate, them He also called. And whom He called,
them He also justified. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified. What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be
against He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up
for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us
all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword,
as it is written, for thy sake, we are killed all the day long.
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For
I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, or any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What's
going to happen tomorrow? I don't know. What's going to come to pass?
Whatever Almighty God has decreed. That's exactly it. I can tell
you what's going to happen tomorrow, whatever He purposes. That's
what's going to happen. How are they going to fall out?
the way that He has decreed, He that knows the end from the
beginning, that works all things after the counsel of His own
will. What if there is a nation that we see that is raised up,
that is in absolute open rebellion, not against false religion, but
in open rebellion against God's people, against the preaching
of free grace, Sovereign saving grace. What if it's going to
be raised up? It's not what if. It will be. It will be. What's going to happen? Almighty God's going to keep
us. He'll keep us. He'll keep us. What if we die? Paul says that's game for us.
What if we don't make it? We will. We will. What if it
appears as though that they're going to win? They won't. How
do you know? He said so. How do you know?
Almighty God has declared, I'll never leave you. I will never
forsake you. We're in this world for just
a little while. This is just a vapor. Almighty
God, for the sake of His Son, has secured His people in their
substitute. As Paul says, neither depth or
height or persecution or peril, nothing shall separate us from
the love of God. All hope is in Him. It's okay. It's okay. Our God reigns and nothing shall
separate us from Him.