1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,000 Chapter 6, because here's what's happening. 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:17,400 So we've been studying the book of Revelation now for a year and almost a half, and we're 3 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,160 about to enter into chapter 12. 4 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:24,400 And chapter 12, it starts, I mean, the whole of Revelation, let's just be honest with each 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:25,400 other, right? 6 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:26,880 It's a little, it's a little out there. 7 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,440 It's not like a lot of the other books in the Bible. 8 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:36,800 And so chapter 12, it's going to start talking about Satan's rebellion in heaven and the 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:42,440 great amount of angels who joined him in his rebellion and who ultimately were defeated 10 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,600 and cast down to earth. 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:50,680 And so what I found interesting as I was just thinking about this, praying about this, is 12 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:58,080 that when you read the Bible cover to cover, it's filled with angels and demons and principalities 13 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:03,200 and spirits and all this kind of stuff that we just don't really acknowledge today, right? 14 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,320 I mean, don't we think that's a problem? 15 00:01:05,320 --> 00:01:09,600 I mean, you look at in the Bible in almost every other chapter in the Gospels, Jesus 16 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:15,000 has cast in out a demon and now today we're like, good thing there are no demons anymore. 17 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:19,960 I think maybe a lot of the things that we attribute to other things are actually demon 18 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:22,000 oppression and demon possession. 19 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:29,560 And I fully believe that I think that there's a lot of mental health things that we've tried 20 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:35,880 to put in its own category that I think most accurately can be explained by demon possession 21 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,880 and demon oppression. 22 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,360 And so I actually thought about this as I was walking through our yard. 23 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:43,880 So it's this big open area. 24 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,360 I was coming from Gene and Vicki's house, walking through the pasture. 25 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:52,640 And I was just, I took a moment to stop and look around and I realized there's an entire 26 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,600 world here that I cannot see. 27 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,160 Have you ever had a moment like that? 28 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,040 That's pretty amazing, isn't it? 29 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,640 If not, I encourage you just go take a walk in nature. 30 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,720 Just jump the fence, go into the cow pasture, don't get chased by the bull, but just take 31 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:13,720 a moment to stop and realize even on your drive home, there is an entire world all around 32 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,160 us at every moment that we cannot see. 33 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,360 There is an unseen realm. 34 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,680 And I think here's what's happened, right? 35 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:28,120 The biblical authors and then the early church had no problem discussing these things because 36 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:29,120 it was common to them. 37 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:30,760 It was natural. 38 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,480 But with modernity and then post-modernity, here's what's happened. 39 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,160 Our entire world has become materialist. 40 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:42,920 And so most people in our world today, they only believe in the material world. 41 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:47,160 Everything they can see, touch, feel, experience, that's what they believe in. 42 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,280 And if they can't do those things, they don't believe in it. 43 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,720 They only believe in the material. 44 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,000 You get that, everybody tracking? 45 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:59,800 So I think what's happened is Christians have inadvertently become Christian materialists. 46 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,440 And what I mean by that is, for the most part, I'd say at least, and this is, Anna helped 47 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:10,800 me realize this because she's brilliant, especially this is true in America and in 48 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:11,800 Europe. 49 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:18,440 In other areas of the world where Christianity exists, it's not that foreign to them. 50 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:25,880 But in America, in Europe's westernized cultures, we have a problem with talking about the spiritual 51 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:26,960 realm. 52 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:28,800 We don't want to seem too new-agey. 53 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:34,720 We don't want to seem like we're a zodiac person or like any of these sort of mystical 54 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:35,720 things. 55 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,720 But the problem is the Bible's full of that stuff, like cover to cover. 56 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,320 It's just full of it. 57 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:46,160 And so I think we've become Christian materialists in the sense that 99% of Christians in America 58 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:51,320 and in Europe are westernized cultures, we only believe in the things that we see, and 59 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,440 then we make an exception for God, right? 60 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:55,800 So we go, oh, I can't see God, but I believe in Him. 61 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,880 And I know there's a devil somewhere and there are angels, but I could probably see those 62 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,680 angels, but everything else is just whatever in front of me. 63 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,560 I'm not saying this is something that we intended to do, but I think it's happened by an effect 64 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,120 of our culture that we've become Christian materialists. 65 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:16,080 And so what I wanted to do as we're beginning to dive into Revelation 12, for the next few 66 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,080 weeks, and this is going to be two weeks, but it's probably going to be more because 67 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:24,920 I've really, really enjoyed studying this, and I just want to put it before you, is I 68 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:32,920 want us to peel back the cover on the unseen realm and begin to notice how that unseen 69 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:40,080 realm is all around us today and begin to see how at work in our world it actually is. 70 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,960 So that we can move past Christian materialism and we can actually get comfortable with these 71 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:46,320 things that we read in the Bible. 72 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,120 Like, oh, maybe demons do still possess people. 73 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,840 Maybe there are angels in our world today and they're living and they're active. 74 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:56,920 Maybe there are demonic forces and things like that. 75 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:03,920 I mean, maybe there are demonic forces at work in a particular part of the world or a particular 76 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,920 country or area or things like that. 77 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:10,000 And I think you can explain a lot of like, I mean, you might have heard of the suicide 78 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,000 forests in Japan. 79 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,560 I think there's a strong demonic presence there. 80 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,680 These things will flush out or flush out, but I think you can explain a lot of things. 81 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,560 I think you can explain dragons. 82 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,240 Anna told me not to get off on that, so I'm not going to tonight, but maybe in the next 83 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,520 couple of weeks, I think you look at some of the descriptions we see in the Bible of 84 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:33,320 like demonic forces and it does a lot to explain dragons and why that's been actually well 85 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:37,200 documented throughout history and people don't ever bat an eye and they're not embarrassed 86 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:38,720 to be like, oh, this guy fought a dragon. 87 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,320 It's like, well, maybe, maybe he did. 88 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,720 Maybe it was a fallen seraphim and I told Anna, I'm not going to get off on that. 89 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:51,920 So what I want to do Ephesians chapter six, let's just to, to, to center us around this. 90 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:57,640 Ephesians six, this is a really important text to just remind us of what's going on. 91 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:02,800 Ephesians six, 10, it says, finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 92 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:09,880 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the 93 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:16,360 devil for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers against 94 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:22,280 the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual 95 00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:25,640 forces of evil in the heavenly places. 96 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:29,240 So I want you to notice what, what these verses are saying is saying that we don't wrestle 97 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:34,720 with flesh and blood that, that our battle as a Christian is entirely different. 98 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,040 That's not to say we're not going to have opposition from the physical world, but it 99 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:44,560 is saying that there is an underlying evil that pervades the physicality of this world 100 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:50,120 that stems from the powers of darkness and that we are actually at war with that is telling 101 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:56,000 us that there are rulers, authorities, cosmic powers that rule over this present darkness, 102 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:03,240 this dark age in which we live, this sinful, broken world that there are actually fallen 103 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:08,440 angels, demonic forces at work in this world and that they have a level of authority and 104 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,120 ability to influence this world. 105 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:12,720 Now let's just pause. 106 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:13,720 Okay. 107 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,760 So if I had my whiteboard out, which I didn't have time to get it, but so God's at the top 108 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,320 and God is absolutely sovereign 100%. 109 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,920 There is not a thing he could not do that goes against his own character. 110 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:28,000 He would never do that, but God is absolutely sovereign. 111 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,440 He rules over all things, right? 112 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:32,160 We're good, clear on that. 113 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:33,160 Okay. 114 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:38,200 But he also gives other people authority to exercise authority under his rule. 115 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,160 So this started in the garden with mankind. 116 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,080 He told Adam and Eve to have dominion over the whole earth. 117 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,680 So they were to rule over the earth, but it was under the umbrella of his authority. 118 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:49,080 We're tracking with that. 119 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,600 And so there are beings, whether they are angels who have not fallen or angels who have 120 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:59,240 fallen, whether it's Satan himself who has a certain level of authority that derives 121 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,320 from God's own authority and is actually under his authority. 122 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,000 So they're not on par with God. 123 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,040 This is not platonic dualism, whereas two equal forces and it's like, who's going to 124 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,040 win this battle? 125 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:10,800 This is God's over everything. 126 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:16,800 He will get the victory, but these forces have a level of influence in this world today. 127 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,960 And we're going to get really into demons and stuff the next few weeks. 128 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,440 So if you're interested in that, I encourage you to come back. 129 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:28,400 But I just want us to see how we're going to focus on angels and how they have a level 130 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:30,680 of authority in our world today. 131 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:36,920 And what's encouraging when we think about angels is that they are sent by God to be 132 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:43,800 ministering spirits to his people and they are present all around us, even when we don't 133 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:44,800 see them. 134 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,880 So one of my favorite passages in the Bible, it'll be on the screen. 135 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,640 Second Kings chapter six. 136 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,480 This is just an amazing passage. 137 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:57,680 It says once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servant 138 00:08:57,680 --> 00:09:01,160 saying, as such and such a place shall be my camp. 139 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:06,880 But the man of God, this is Elisha, he sent word to the king of Israel, but where do not 140 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,080 pass this place for the Syrians are going down there. 141 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,880 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. 142 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:19,280 Thus he used to warn him so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. 143 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,040 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing. 144 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,680 And he called his servants and said to them, well, you not show me who of us is for the 145 00:09:27,680 --> 00:09:28,680 king of Israel. 146 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:29,840 So he thought he had a traitor in its midst. 147 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:30,960 He's like, okay, who's talking? 148 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,360 All right, who's telling them where we're going because every time we go there, they're 149 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:35,360 ready for us. 150 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:36,360 All right. 151 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:42,840 And one of his servants said, none, my Lord, O king, but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, 152 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,320 tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom. 153 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,760 And he said, go and see where he is that I may send him or send and seize him. 154 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:53,240 And it was told him, behold, he is in Dothan. 155 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:58,880 So we sent their horses and chariots and a great army that came by night and surrounded 156 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:00,320 the city. 157 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:05,760 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army 158 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,240 with horses and chariots was all around the city. 159 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,920 And the servant said, alas, my master, what shall we do? 160 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:18,760 And he said, do not be afraid for those who are with us are more than those who are with 161 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,560 them, which is hilarious, right? 162 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:26,160 The servant wakes up, he looks at it, he goes, okay, we've got a problem. 163 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:27,160 Whole city surrounded. 164 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:28,560 What are we going to do? 165 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:31,760 He's freaking out and Elisha is just like, don't worry about it. 166 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,240 We've got more on our side than they've got on theirs. 167 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,080 And he's like, can you even count? 168 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:37,080 There's two of us. 169 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,080 There's one, two. 170 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,080 That's it. 171 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,080 And then this is what happens. 172 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,880 This is what's amazing. 173 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:49,440 Then Elisha prayed and said, oh, Lord, please open his eyes that he may see. 174 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:54,680 And so the Lord opened the eyes of the young man and he saw, and behold, the mountain was 175 00:10:54,680 --> 00:11:00,480 full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 176 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,680 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed and said, please strike these 177 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:06,520 people with blindness. 178 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:11,520 And so we struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 179 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,440 How amazing is that passage? 180 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:15,760 You've got two people here. 181 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:16,760 One's a prophet of God. 182 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:18,440 One's the servant of the prophet. 183 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,400 And they are being besieged by this foreign army. 184 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:23,720 They're worrying and scared. 185 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:25,560 At least the servant was. 186 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:31,800 But Elisha has a calmness about him because God had given him the ability to see the unseen 187 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:32,800 realm. 188 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:33,800 I don't know if it was in this one instance. 189 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:35,040 I don't know if he always had it. 190 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,320 That goes beyond what I can say. 191 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:45,320 But he was able to see that God had surrounded their entire city with chariots of fire and 192 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:51,040 with his ministering spirits with his angels who were often depicted as fire in the Bible. 193 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:57,320 And so there was this entire unseen realm who was there for them, for their protection, 194 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,120 for their good. 195 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,080 And one of them was blind to it. 196 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,080 And so I'm not saying that this entire room right now is filled with angels and we just 197 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,600 can't see it, but I also can't say that that's not the case. 198 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:16,440 It's just a reminder from the Bible that there is an unseen realm that exists that we aren't 199 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:17,800 privy to. 200 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:22,120 But acknowledging its existence is helpful for us because even in those times when we 201 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:26,320 are alone, we have no idea if God has sent one of his ministering spirits to be there 202 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:27,320 with us. 203 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:33,960 It's a great comfort to know that even when we can't see a being that God does send ministering 204 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,160 spirits to help his people. 205 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:40,080 And you see angels from the very beginning of the Bible who were on earth, right? 206 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,640 So think back to Genesis chapter 3, right after Adam and Eve were kicked out of the 207 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:50,120 garden, God puts a cherubim at the gate with a flaming sword to keep them out. 208 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:54,520 That's an angel on earth carrying out God's will. 209 00:12:54,520 --> 00:13:00,480 We also see all throughout Genesis, I don't have time to get into everything, but one 210 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,720 thing that we can note is that the angels, they do have the ability to go back and forth 211 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:06,520 from heaven and earth. 212 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:12,920 So in Job chapter 1, very well-known passage, now there was a day when the sons of God, 213 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:18,800 that's a phrase in Hebrew for angels, came to present themselves before the Lord and 214 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,400 Satan also came among them. 215 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,160 And the Lord said to Satan, from where have you come? 216 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:27,560 And Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth and from walking 217 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:29,160 up and down on it. 218 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:34,600 And at this time, it seems like this is maybe pre-fall, but, or maybe it's after the fall, 219 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,360 I don't know for sure. 220 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,520 Good luck day in the book of Job, everyone. 221 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:43,400 But it is to say that he was amongst the angels and that the angels had the ability to go 222 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,280 back and forth between heaven and earth. 223 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:50,600 And so there, I know we tend to think of angels in heaven, but the Bible almost more often 224 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:56,400 depicts them here on earth, carrying out God's will and helping people here on earth. 225 00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:05,000 In fact, the Bible goes so far as to indicate that angels may have some level of authority 226 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,120 and influence in kingdoms. 227 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:14,880 So for instance, Daniel chapter 10 and in verse 10, reading through verse 14, this is 228 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,840 Daniel speaking and he is encountering an angel. 229 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,960 And behold, a hand touched me and sent me trembling on my hands and knees. 230 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:27,920 And he said to me, Oh Daniel, man greatly loved. 231 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:29,120 Understand the words that I speak to you. 232 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:33,880 By the way, how much would you just love to have an angel come to you delivering a message 233 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:34,880 from God? 234 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,640 And he starts with, Oh, your name, greatly loved. 235 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:39,880 I would love to have that said to me. 236 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,280 So that's what he said. 237 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,200 And he says, stand upright for now. 238 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,040 I have been sent to you. 239 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,640 And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 240 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:52,560 Then he said to me, fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand 241 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,600 and humbled yourself before God, your words have been heard. 242 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,000 And I have come because of your words. 243 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,520 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 21 days. 244 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:08,760 But Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me for I was left there with the kings 245 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:14,680 of Persia and came to make you understand what has happened to your people in the latter 246 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,600 days for the vision is for days yet to come. 247 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,520 And then going forward to verse 20. 248 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,560 He says, do you not know or do you know why I've come to you? 249 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,000 But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia. 250 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:31,080 When I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 251 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,120 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. 252 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:40,360 There is none who contends by my side against these, except Michael, your prince. 253 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,880 And so what's interesting is they didn't really have princes. 254 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,480 They had kings. 255 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:51,440 But the prince of a place is synonymous with an angel of that place. 256 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:56,160 And so what this angel is doing, speaking to Daniel, is he's saying, hey, I was appointed 257 00:15:56,160 --> 00:16:02,000 to go and be at work in Persia against the angel that was at work in Persia, the prince 258 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:03,000 of Persia. 259 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,840 And we were contending against each other. 260 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:10,560 So there was this demonic being, this prince of Persia, who was influencing the country 261 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,560 of Persia, exerting some level of influence and authority. 262 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:19,360 And this angel was sent by God to contend against him, along with Michael. 263 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,840 The only time that name is used of an angel is Michael the Archangel. 264 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:26,400 So I think we have every reason to believe that this is Michael the Archangel. 265 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:32,000 And so this unnamed angel and Michael are fighting against this other demonic fallen 266 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,000 angel. 267 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,960 This one breaks free long enough to warn Daniel about what's to come. 268 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:38,520 And then they go back. 269 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:43,900 And so it's a really interesting thing to note that there are fallen angels and good 270 00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:49,120 angels who are active and at work in governments. 271 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,040 Maybe that's not hard for you to believe. 272 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:55,000 But it's true, biblically speaking. 273 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,200 And you see this even more in Daniel. 274 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:58,320 We won't get into all of it. 275 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:03,560 But you look in the Bible and you see that they're actually exerting some influence on 276 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:09,620 political leaders, on countries, on people in government and having a level of authority. 277 00:17:09,620 --> 00:17:14,560 But right alongside the fallen angels, there are good angels who are warring against them 278 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,000 to try to steer the country back. 279 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:22,280 So you take a country, for instance, in our world, like North Korea, easy target, right? 280 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:26,720 You look at the evils of North Korea and I think biblically speaking, we have every 281 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:32,240 reason to believe that there is at work some sort of demonic force at work in that country. 282 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,400 You can't see the things going on there and think that's not the work of evil and demonic 283 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,400 influences. 284 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:42,520 And so you see that happening, but there's also this great hope and comfort that God 285 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:48,200 at any point could send a ministering spirit to that country to fight against the demonic 286 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:53,920 forces at work to steer it back towards God and break the chains of darkness. 287 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,520 And this goes beyond what we picture angels doing, right? 288 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,520 Again, what's your picture of an angel? 289 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:00,920 Probably playing a harp, singing a song in heaven, right? 290 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,280 White flow in dresses, you've got a little halo. 291 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:09,560 But biblically, these guys are fighting for the good of humanity to carry out God's will 292 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:10,560 on this earth. 293 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:13,240 It's really cool when you start digging into it. 294 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:18,720 And again, it's not just countries, but here's another encouraging thing. 295 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:26,640 It looks though as though in the Bible, angels have some level of influence in a church. 296 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:27,680 Demonic spirits as well. 297 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,480 Maybe that one's not hard for you to believe. 298 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,560 So just remember, we're in the book of Revelation. 299 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,240 Do you remember the seven letters to the seven churches? 300 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:42,000 How did every single one of them begin? 301 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:47,520 To the angel of the church in right. 302 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,600 To the angel of the church. 303 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,320 Now here's what's interesting. 304 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:58,240 It very well could mean the pastor of the church because in Greek, ongelos, it just means messenger 305 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,760 and the pastor is typically the messenger of the church. 306 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:02,960 So it's very possible. 307 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,680 But words derive their meaning from how they're used. 308 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,800 So in America, when we say football, we don't mean soccer. 309 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:11,800 We mean football. 310 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,400 American football. 311 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:14,400 Good football. 312 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:15,400 Real football. 313 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,480 That's what we mean. 314 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:23,440 So in the book of Revelation, ongelos is only ever used of heavenly beings. 315 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,440 It's never used of anyone else. 316 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:30,520 So the way that John uses it in Revelation would determine its meaning, which means he 317 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:37,240 was writing to a church or to an angel of a particular church, which means you can derive 318 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:38,240 this. 319 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:44,400 Again, the Bible doesn't state it explicitly, but you can make this deduction that it seems 320 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:50,280 as though God has appointed angels to his believing congregations, to have some level 321 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:54,520 of influence and presence in that church. 322 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,280 Now the number of angels is innumerable. 323 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:59,920 It's not infinite, but it's innumerable, meaning we don't know it. 324 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:01,280 It's beyond our knowledge. 325 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:02,760 We can't count it. 326 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:07,920 So it's not inconceivable that God would have enough angels to appoint to every one 327 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,720 of his believing congregations. 328 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,120 I think that's really comforting. 329 00:20:13,120 --> 00:20:20,920 And then it's the most comforting part that I think about angels is that they are meant 330 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:26,400 to serve God, their whole existence besides bringing glory to God is to serve as ministering 331 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,480 spirits to us. 332 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,680 They exist to serve God and us. 333 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:40,400 Hebrews chapter one, verse 14, the Bible says, of the angels, are they not all ministering 334 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:47,120 spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? 335 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:52,840 Now, not everyone, so angels aren't serving every, but those who are to inherit salvation, 336 00:20:52,840 --> 00:21:01,960 whom God already knows, he sends his spirits, his angels to come and serve and minister 337 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,040 to us. 338 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,760 You see their activities all throughout the Bible, and they're actually really helpful. 339 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:09,760 They help people. 340 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:10,760 They comfort people. 341 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:11,760 They guide people. 342 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,200 They protect people. 343 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,760 You see this not just in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament. 344 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,760 So one book in the New Testament, think about the book of Acts. 345 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:25,680 In Acts chapter five, an angel opens the doors of a prison and frees the apostles. 346 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:27,200 That'd be great help. 347 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:32,600 In Acts chapter eight, an angel spoke to Philip and directed him to go and witness to the Ethiopian 348 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:33,600 unit. 349 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:39,200 In Acts chapter 10, an angel spoke to Cornelius and told him that Peter, a man named Peter, 350 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:43,400 was coming to preach to him, and he needs to listen to what he asked to say. 351 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,360 In Acts chapter 12, an angel woke Peter from sleep. 352 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:48,440 Actually, go and read Acts chapter 12. 353 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:49,520 It's hilarious. 354 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,000 It says that the angel slapped him on the side to wake him up. 355 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,280 Imagine being Peter and you're slapped awake by an angel. 356 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:02,440 So this angel slaps him awake, and he actually helps Peter get out of prison. 357 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:03,600 He rescues him. 358 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:09,600 And then in Acts chapter 27, when Paul is out on the sea, an angel comes to his ship 359 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:14,480 and tells him you're about to crash, but don't worry, you and everyone who's with you is 360 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:15,980 going to survive. 361 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:19,720 And so you see that they're active in the early church. 362 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:25,680 And for some reason, because of modernity and post-modernity, we just have come to believe 363 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,440 that angels are just no longer active today, that they're just not around us. 364 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,400 They play no part in our world. 365 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:33,680 They are for heaven. 366 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:35,040 They sing their songs. 367 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,040 And that's it. 368 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:42,480 And what a disservice that is to these great helpers that God has sent to ministered people. 369 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,840 Now, listen, we're not exalting angels. 370 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:50,800 Angels are created beings, and they're not even the most glorious thing God ever created. 371 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,120 That's humanity, because humanity alone is made in the image of God. 372 00:22:55,120 --> 00:22:56,760 So we're not exalting angels. 373 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:57,760 They are not God. 374 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,560 They should not be worshiped, and they should not be prayed to. 375 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,480 Everybody hear me say this because I don't want to get comments on YouTube or anything. 376 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:04,680 He's exalting angels. 377 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:05,680 I'm not doing that. 378 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:07,400 I'm solely for the glory of God. 379 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,520 Y'all know me, all right? 380 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:10,520 We don't worship angels. 381 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:11,520 We don't pray to them. 382 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:17,680 John even encounters that in Revelation, where he is just so amazed by an angel that he starts 383 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,400 to pray, and the angel's like, what are you doing? 384 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:20,400 Stop. 385 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:21,400 I'm not God. 386 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:22,400 Don't do that. 387 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:23,560 And so we're not worshiping them. 388 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:30,200 We're not praying to them, but they are an essential part of God's plan to help humanity 389 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,000 that we have largely ignored. 390 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,360 And I think that they are still active in our world today in many ways. 391 00:23:36,360 --> 00:23:38,080 And listen, I want you to hear me say this. 392 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:42,920 I'm the type of person who will very quickly dismiss a claim. 393 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,720 Like if it's a paranormal, outlandish claim, if you've got a regular claim, I'll hear 394 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:47,720 you. 395 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:48,720 But like, oh, I saw a ghost. 396 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:50,160 I'm going to say, no, you didn't. 397 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:56,200 Or like, if it's anything paranormal, supernatural, I'm very quick to dismiss it and say there's 398 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,720 a logical explanation behind it. 399 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,440 Does everybody hear me say that? 400 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:01,440 Okay? 401 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:02,440 Yes? 402 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,160 No, no, no, I'm saying that of myself, not you. 403 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:06,160 Okay? 404 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,280 Well, so of me, that's just who I am as a person. 405 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,400 I'm saying that to preface this. 406 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,280 I might have had an encounter with an angel. 407 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:15,280 I don't know. 408 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:16,280 All right? 409 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:17,640 I think everybody might have a story like this. 410 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,040 I'm not sure. 411 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,280 But this was when I was, do what? 412 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,040 Yeah, just by the name angel. 413 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:28,080 So this was, I was still working at Lowe's. 414 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:32,800 I had suffered a concussion because something fell on my head and concussed. 415 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:35,760 And about two or three days after that, I was driving home. 416 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:40,640 I was at the red light in front of Cookout and a car just slammed into the back. 417 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:43,040 I mean, just did not see that it was a red light. 418 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:44,480 And so I was driving a truck. 419 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:49,000 My whole bed of my truck was smushed in and I smacked my head against the steering wheel. 420 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,000 Okay? 421 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:53,760 So apparently there's this thing called second impact syndrome, which if you have a head 422 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,800 injury like a concussion and then another head injury shortly after, guess what? 423 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,520 Your brain swells up, bleeds and you die. 424 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,520 And there's not a thing that the doctors can do about it. 425 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:03,960 So I'm freaking out at this point. 426 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:05,680 I'm panicking. 427 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:10,640 And I am there waiting on the paramedics, everybody. 428 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,080 This woman comes and opens my door. 429 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:13,200 She's wearing a cross necklace. 430 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:15,120 I can't even describe her face to you anymore. 431 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:16,640 I've completely forgotten. 432 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,240 But she was just there and she put her arms around me and she said, are you okay? 433 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,120 And I was like, I mean, I hit my head and I just had a concussion. 434 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:25,440 And she was like, no, no, you're okay. 435 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:26,440 You're okay. 436 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:27,600 It's going to be okay. 437 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:28,840 Everything's going to be all right. 438 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:30,120 I'm just going to wait with you here. 439 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:31,120 I mean, that's all she said. 440 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:33,680 But she was confident, like very confident. 441 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:34,840 This is going to be okay. 442 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,360 Everything's going to be all right. 443 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:41,840 And she just kept her arm around me and kept talking to me and I just calmed down. 444 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,320 And so the paramedics finally get there and they come to get me out and everything. 445 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:46,520 They're like, do you need to go to the hospital? 446 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,720 And I said, yeah, because I just had a concussion. 447 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:52,480 And I said, but before you take me, I just want to say thank you to the lady who was here 448 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:53,800 and sound like a crazy person. 449 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:55,320 I know that's why I prefaced this. 450 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:56,320 Okay. 451 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:57,320 You remember I prefaced it. 452 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:01,080 She was gone and they said there was no lady that they hadn't seen. 453 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:04,680 And I know for a fact, I thought he was lying to me because they moved past her to get in 454 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:05,680 my door. 455 00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:10,600 She was in the door and they moved past her to get to me and they said they never saw 456 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,900 her and then she was gone and no one remembers seeing her. 457 00:26:14,900 --> 00:26:17,120 So again, I know, oh, the pastor is crazy. 458 00:26:17,120 --> 00:26:18,320 I'm not crazy. 459 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:23,160 I will dismiss stuff like that, but it happened to me and I don't know how to explain it. 460 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,880 So you could say, well, it was just a good Samaritan. 461 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:31,640 Maybe it was and thank God for that good Samaritan because she really did help me. 462 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:36,680 But maybe it was a ministering spirit who was sent there to help me in a time of need 463 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,040 and give me comfort when I was panicking. 464 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:46,120 And by the book of Hebrews says in Hebrews 13 to do not neglect to show hospitality to 465 00:26:46,120 --> 00:26:52,920 strangers for thereby some have entertained angels on a wares. 466 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:57,000 So you cannot dismiss say one's ever had an encounter with an angel. 467 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:02,080 They've never come and eaten with the Bible says that many people who will show this love 468 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:06,880 and hospitality to others, they've entertained angels and they had no idea. 469 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:08,640 So this kind of does still happen. 470 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,760 There is an unseen realm, but every now and then God gives us a glimpse of it. 471 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:14,760 It's a great comfort. 472 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:19,200 And so I know we're over time, but if you'll just indulge me one second, one little interesting 473 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:20,260 thing, right? 474 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:24,600 This leads to a question that'd be a good podcast question. 475 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,560 Are there such thing as guardian angels? 476 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:29,880 Does every Christian have a guardian angel? 477 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:31,680 This is something you hear all the time, right? 478 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:37,240 Like at one point my mom got me this to clip on my visor when I first started driving and 479 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:42,480 it said, never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly. 480 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,760 I mean, it's just a mom thing, right? 481 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,000 Like, and I saw I kept it there. 482 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,240 But I remember thinking like, okay, I'll keep it there because she loves me and I love her. 483 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:54,640 But obviously there's no such thing as guardian angels. 484 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,160 It's just clear, right? 485 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:57,400 Here's the thing. 486 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:02,440 There is no verse in the Bible that says God gives guardian angels to every single Christian. 487 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,920 But there's also not a verse that says that God doesn't give guardian angels to every 488 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:06,920 Christian. 489 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:08,360 So you can have your view. 490 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,720 Yes or no, you can't be dogmatic about it. 491 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:15,120 You can't say, well, no for sure or yes for sure, because there's not biblical proof. 492 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:20,000 But that said, who wants to feel super uncomfortable and think about something on their way home? 493 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,000 Everybody, cool. 494 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:24,720 All right, Matthew 18 verse 10. 495 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:25,720 So this is a well-known story. 496 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:30,320 Matthew 18, this is when the little children come to Jesus and the disciples are trying 497 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:33,720 to dismiss them and they're like, no, you got to have faith like these kids and not 498 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:37,200 dismiss them for the kingdom of heaven is theirs, all this kind of stuff, right? 499 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:38,200 So here's what's happened. 500 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,360 And I never noticed this until the day. 501 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,680 And Matthew is my favorite book of the Bible, read it so many times, lost count. 502 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:44,920 I've read the whole Bible. 503 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:50,280 I've never noticed this one detail that sent me on a three hour spiral today. 504 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,120 Verse 10, see that you do not despise one of these little ones for I tell you that in 505 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:59,000 heaven there, anybody see that possessive pronoun? 506 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:05,960 Their angels always see the face of my father who is in heaven. 507 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:11,520 All I was doing was in my Bible software tracking angel and his usage through the Bible. 508 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,880 I come across this and I notice there. 509 00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:16,360 They're not freaking out like I was. 510 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,440 Okay, people, I need you to appreciate this. 511 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,080 Why is there a possessive pronoun? 512 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:23,360 What do you do with that? 513 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:29,880 Their angels always see the face of my father who's in heaven. 514 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:34,400 So a couple conclusions we can make. 515 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:41,880 This can either mean one that these particular children have an angel guarding them in heaven. 516 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:43,000 This is just me reasoning. 517 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:44,640 There's not like a book that says here the possible. 518 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,520 This is just like I'm working it out, right? 519 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:52,440 Two, it can mean that all children have an angel guarding over them in heaven because 520 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,120 God loves the children. 521 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:55,960 So that's possible. 522 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:02,720 It could mean three that all Christians everywhere have a guardian angel over them. 523 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,360 And again, the number of angels is innumerable. 524 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,640 God's saved people is innumerable. 525 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:12,960 So it makes sense that he would have enough angels to do that if he wanted to. 526 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:15,160 Or it could mean four. 527 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:19,920 I'm going to just think this is probably where I'm landing as of right now. 528 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:25,400 It could mean that because these kids are part of the kingdom of God, because Jesus said 529 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:29,960 earlier in Matthew 18, they have faith and he told his disciples, you need faith like 530 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:30,960 their face. 531 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,160 So they are believers. 532 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:34,000 They will inherit salvation. 533 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:41,440 It can mean that since they are saved and are going to inherit salvation, that like every 534 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,640 other believer in the world, the angels are at their disposal. 535 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:47,320 So that is why they can be said to be theirs. 536 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:48,920 Does that make sense? 537 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:54,320 So it's not that they each have their own individual person or angel. 538 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:58,320 It's that as a group, the angels serve God's people. 539 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:02,400 And so now these angels are at their disposal and will come and help them. 540 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:04,320 Again, you have like four options there. 541 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,760 If you can think of another logical one that I missed, I'm open to it. 542 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:09,960 I probably land at number four right now. 543 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,000 But does anyone else think it's interesting that it said there or is that just me? 544 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,560 Did I just waste your time and keep you longer for no reason? 545 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:16,960 That's pretty interesting, right? 546 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,040 Go home and think about it. 547 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:22,080 But this is why the Bible is so awesome because you always discover things in it and it's 548 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,800 wonderful and it's so good to meditate on God's word. 549 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:26,800 Is it not? 550 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:31,440 And even over a simple word like there can send you on a three hour study of God's word 551 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:34,040 trying to figure out what in the world does this mean? 552 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:36,520 Anyways, all that to say. 553 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,800 There is an unseen realm. 554 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:40,080 Angels exist. 555 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:46,280 They are active in our world today and they exist to serve God, glorify him and also to 556 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:48,080 minister to his people. 557 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:50,320 And so they are great help and comfort. 558 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:52,160 We should thank God for the angels. 559 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,160 We should praise God for the angels. 560 00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:55,600 Never praise an angel. 561 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:56,680 Never worship an angel. 562 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,520 Never, you know, pray to an angel or anything like that. 563 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:04,080 But just understand that as you're going out these doors tonight, as you're driving home, 564 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:11,040 there's an entire world that you cannot see that is working in our world and some of that 565 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,200 world is working for your good. 566 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,760 And that's a really cool thing to think about. 567 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:19,520 If you thought that was fun, just wait until next week when we start talking about demons 568 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,480 in all the places they are and may or may not be in dragons. 569 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,960 And I'll see if Anna will let me talk to you about dragons next week. 570 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:27,960 Anybody want to hear about dragons? 571 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,120 Because if you tell me you do, I can tell. 572 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:31,120 Okay. 573 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:32,120 All right. 574 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:33,120 We've got, all right. 575 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:34,800 Look, they all want dragons.