Rebellion and Redemption Crisis in Heaven

Lesson #1 for January 2, 2016

Scriptures: [Isaiah 14:4,12-15; Ezekiel 28:2,12-16; John 12:31; Revelation 12:7-16; Luke 10:1-21[i]].

1.    With this lesson we begin our discussion of the great controversy. The great controversy is a major theme in the writings of Ellen G. White, especially in the Conflict of the Ages series. It is because of her writings that we as Seventh-day Adventists know and understand this very important theme from Scripture. It can be found in Scripture; but, it was Ellen White who helped us to find it.

The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character.

He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.3.

The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Mal. 4:2.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages p. 22.1. [Bold type is added.]

2.    In order to understand the great controversy fully, we must remember that everything was peaceful and harmonious throughout our universe before sin entered. At that time, all creatures living in the universe loved and appreciated each other.

3.    But, Lucifer, one who stood next to the throne of God and who is described as God’s highest creation, became jealous. He envied the position of Jesus and wanted to be thought of as a god himself. Revelation 12:7ii tells us that as a result, there was war in heaven. We do not know how that war was actually conducted. What kind of weapons could any creature use to try to fight against God? It may have been a war of words and ideas. What weapons did Satan use? Deception?

4.    Unfortunately for us, Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven and down to this earth. By deceiving and tricking Eve who then shared the fruit with Adam, Satan convinced our first parents to join his side in the war. We have been living with the consequences ever since. Was sin an inevitability? Will sin still be possible in the future world? Will we still be free?

5.    In this series of lessons, we will attempt to understand: 1) Some of the reasons for that rebellion, 2) What the issues were, and 3) How God has won the great controversy by revealing the truth. What truth needed to be revealed?

6.    Read Isaiah 14:4,12-15iii. In this passage we have what is described as one of the most beautiful poems in the entire Old Testament. Hebrew poetry is different from our modern poetry. In Hebrew, poetic ideas are matched and compared. We will see in this passage and others which we will study how Helel ben Shahar, Lucifer, Day Star, bright morning star, became the Devil, Satan, God’s opponent. What evidence do you see in these verses in Isaiah that it is not talking simply about a human ruler? Could any human ruler truthfully be described as the bright morning star, fallen from heaven, the one who aspired to place his throne above the highest stars and to sit on the mountain in the north where the gods assemble, and to be like the Almighty? Nebuchadnezzar, the famous king of Neo-Babylonia, wanted people to worship him as we can see from Daniel 3. But, Isaiah who wrote this poem, lived more than 100 years before Nebuchadnezzar began his conquest of the world.

7.    It should be clear from reading this passage that it was not Nebuchadnezzar who was being discussed, nor was it any earlier monarch from Babylonia; but rather, it was another powerful being who once lived in heaven and wanted to be like God in power and glory but not like God in character. There is one capacity that we have that Satan does not have and about which he is very upset and jealous even of us! He cannot reproduce. If he could, he would, no doubt, fill the universe with little monsters like himself!

8.    There are other examples where two different experiences or people are described in a kind of mixed prophecy. In Matthew 24, Jesus mixed His description of the destruction of Jerusalem with prophecies about the end of the world.

9.    Isaiah himself in Isaiah 7-9 talked about a baby boy who was to be born at the time when the kingdom of Judah was being attacked by Rezin, King of Syria, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, King of Israel. God told Isaiah that this baby who was to be called Immanuel would be born and grow up; before he could say “mommy” and “daddy,” the kings Rezin and Pekah would be gone. But, as we read on through Isaiah 8 and especially in Isaiah 9, we realize that the prophecy had been expanded to talk about a much more important Baby to be born some 700 years later. Thus, the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14iv which initially applied to Isaiah’s baby could be used by Matthew as a prediction of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

10.    Read Ezekiel 28:2,12-19[v]. That is a description of the being who once lived in heaven, an example of perfection who lived temporarily even in Eden, the garden of God. He had walked on God’s holy mountain and among the sparkling gems. His conduct was perfect from the day he was created until evil was found in him. Puffed up with pride, he claimed to be a god. He became proud of his beauty; his fame made him act like a fool, and he was hurled from heaven down to this earth.

11.    Is it possible to understand how a perfect being, living in a perfect environment created by a perfect God with no one to tempt him, could fall to the point of causing war in heaven? What should that say to us about the dangers of envy and jealousy?

12.    Read John 12:31; 14:30; and 16:11vi. Who is this prince of this world? Why did Jesus recognize him as the ruler of this world? When human beings, following Satan’s example and yielding to his temptations became like him, then he claimed to be the ruler of this world.

13.    When Adam and Eve were first created and placed in the Garden of Eden, they were given dominion over all the other creatures. (Genesis 2:8,15vii) They were to have loving command and caring dominion over all the animals. At that point in time, Adam was referred to as one of the sons of God. (See Luke 3:38viii, and compare Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7ix.) But, Adam gave up his dominion of this world by doubting God and accepting Satan’s deceptions.

14.    There is a fascinating look into the operations of heaven’s throne room, the capital of the universe, described in Job 1:6-7 and 2:1-2[x]. Satan returned to heaven, claiming the right to be there as the leader of this world; and recognizing the reality of the situation, God acknowledged him in that role. When these verses described Satan as walking to and fro roaming around the earth, he was not just a visiting tourist. The term is a Hebrew expression suggesting dominion and ownership. Compare God’s giving the land of Palestine to Abraham. (Genesis 13:7xi) A similar promise was made to Moses and Joshua. (Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:3)xii Satan wished to present himself as the God of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4xiii) While Job successfully weathered that incredible experience described in his book, very few others have been as faithful.

15.    Read Revelation 12:7-16xiv. This is the earliest known event in the great controversy. We do not have evidence for any events which happened earlier than this except God’s creation of the universe and angels and other beings outside of this earth. At the end of the war in heaven, Satan and his angels were thrown out. They were thrown down to this earth. Heaven should rejoice, and earth should be warned. Satan is furious because he knows that he has only a little time left. As a result, he has pursued the people of God from the beginning. He knows that if he can prevent them from being faithful to God, he can continue living in his claimed position of domination on this earth.

16.    Read Revelation 12:10-11xv. Fortunately for us, John made it clear in Revelation that all is not lost. “Our brothers and sisters won the victory over him [that is, Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.” (GNB) [Content in brackets is added.] We have the promise that those who are faithful to God-although they may even die in the conflict-ultimately, will be victorious.

17.    In Revelation 12, we see what appear to be three very uneven contests or struggles:

1)    A Dragon versus a baby. The Dragon loses because the baby is caught up to heaven.

2)    The Dragon versus the church. But, God assists the church to escape into the wilderness.

3)    The woman-a description of the church-versus the Dragon who then sends a flood against the woman; but, the earth swallows up that flood.

18.    Read Revelation 12:13-17xvi. These few verses give a very brief overview of the history of our world after Christ’s victory at the first coming. The Dragon is described as being furious. He knows that if God’s people come together, get to know God personally, and stand up for the truth, Satan’s kingdom will be finished.

19.    Read Luke 10:1-21xvii. The story of Job seems to suggest that in Old Testament times, Satan still had access to the heavenly council. However, in the New Testament, Christ suggested that Satan had fallen further-like lightning from heaven. What do you think that means? Satan was already here on this earth. But, just as we can make our prayers heard in heaven, Satan can still make his accusations heard as well. So, in what sense has he fallen? Is it that after his treatment of Jesus and after Jesus’s death on the cross, Satan is no longer welcome in heaven?

20.    The 70 disciples of Jesus who were sent out to Perea to spread the good news came back rejoicing that they had actually exercised power over the demons. But, Jesus went on to say for them to rejoice more that their names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life than that they had power over demonic forces.

21.    Later, as recorded in John 12:31 (GNB), Jesus said: “Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.” What does that mean? And how is that related to John 12:32 (GNB) which says: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me”?

22.    But, Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples that the battle was not over. They would suffer; they must be brave; but, He promised them that He had overcome Satan’s dominion. Paul described that victory as Satan being crushed beneath the feet of God’s followers. (Romans 16:20xviii)

23.    Does it seem like God’s faithful people have become victorious yet? Aren’t we still here?

24.    In Hebrews 12:1-2xix, the author of that book-who does not identify himself but sounds a lot like Paul-encouraged us, suggesting that there is only one way for us to be victorious. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. But, he reminded us of many Old Testament examples of people who succeeded in their battles against Satan. From Abel down through Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Rahab, each of whom won in the battle against Satan in his/her own particular way.

25.    So, why did Lucifer rebel? Do we understand why sin arose in Lucifer? “Little by little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exultation.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 35.2. It should never cease to amaze us that such a being with every possible advantage living and working next to the throne of God could allow himself to fall into the trap of selfishness and rebellion. There is no explanation for evil. No reason can be given, nor any excuse for it. If we could find a reason for it, we would potentially make God responsible for it. We do know that Lucifer-like the rest of us-was given free will and free choice. He chose to exercise his freedom in very destructive ways. Ellen White said a lot of interesting things about Lucifer’s situation before he was finally thrown out of heaven.

26.    Why is freedom-free will, freedom of choice-so important to God? Why was He willing to risk His entire government in order to grant us this freedom?

Every human being, created in the image of God, is endowed with a power akin to that of the Creator-individuality, power to think and to do. —Ellen G. White, Education, 17.2.

27.    In light of the risks God took in giving us freedom, what is the role of law? If we did not have the freedom to obey or disobey, what would be the purpose of having a moral law?

28.    Why is it that so many people even among highly-educated Christians no longer believed in a literal Devil? Isn’t such a view contrary to much of what the Bible itself says? Why would people want to reject the idea of a Devil? If you eliminate the Devil, you no longer have a true great controversy. And isn’t that exactly what the Devil would like us to think?

29.    What is the basic issue in the great controversy? Read Genesis 2:17 and 3:1-5xx. From the very beginning, the issue has been over who is telling us the truth. Who can be trusted? Was God telling us the truth that sin leads to death? Or, was Satan correct in saying that sin is not deadly and so God is lying to us? Why would God need to go about proving the correctness of His claims? How would He do that? In what way does the life and death of Jesus answer Satan’s accusations and claims?

30.    Does God still regard Satan as the ruler of this world? It certainly is true that most of the people who live here on this planet seem to be following his ways!

31.    What was Christ trying to warn us about? What does He expect from us as He tells us that we are being sent forth as sheep among wolves? How are sheep supposed to behave when they are among wolves?

32.    If God has won the great controversy by the blood of the Lamb, how does that victory become ours? Is it possible to get victory by a “substitution”? Or, do we need to gain it by a gradual transformation through Bible study, prayer, and witnessing about truths that we have learned from the life and death of Jesus and by studying other areas of the Bible? Does studying the life and death of Jesus teach us about the nature of sin and its consequences? Would that help us to make better choices?

33.    Are we supposed to think of ourselves as victorious over the Devil now? Or, only after he is destroyed?

34.    How does Christ’s atoning sacrifice “save us from the assaults of evil in and around us”? How does Christ’s blood help us to overcome Satan? Are we supposed to follow the example of the ancient Hebrews and smear it on our doorposts? But, we do not have access to Christ’s blood in a physical sense. If the battle is primarily one between Christ and Satan, how is it possible that Christ wins by losing-that is, by dying? How can one win by dying?

35.    Every war begins because there is a disagreement over something. It may be over territory, economics, cultural issues, or bigotry. The war in heaven began; the issue was how God runs His universe. Are we going to live in a universe which operates completely and totally on the principle of love? Or, following Satan’s example, are we to live in a universe dominated by selfishness? That is the question! Satan uses every conceivable weapon that he can imagine such as deception, misrepresentation, insinuation, coercion, destruction, false claims, etc. God’s weapons, the weapons that Jesus used, are only two things: Self-sacrificing love and eternal truth.

36.    Satan can only be defeated by the revelation of the truth in love. When we clearly understand the issues in the great controversy and what it is that God wants and what it is that Satan is promoting, every one of us should choose God’s side. But, many of us do not.

37.    What would you say to someone who claimed: “I am neither on Satan’s side nor on Christ’s side; I am neutral”? Is that possible? Read [Matthew 12:30; Mark 9:40; and Luke 11:23]xxi. In these passages Jesus stated clearly that anyone who is not on His side is really against Him.

38.    Try to imagine for a moment or two what Satan must be thinking when he remembers his days in heaven or even in the Garden of Eden.

39.    How do we go about making sure that we have chosen God’s side in this great controversy? Do we clearly understand the issues involved? What are we doing to help defeat Satan?

© 2015, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox. org

i-Isaiah 14:4 When he does this, they are to mock the king of Babylon and say:

“The cruel king has fallen! He will never oppress anyone again!

12 King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground. 13 You were determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest stars. You thought you would sit like a king on that mountain in the north where the gods assemble. 14 You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty. 15 But instead, you have been brought down to the deepest part of the world of the dead.

Ezekiel 28:2 “Mortal man,” he said, “tell the ruler of Tyre what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to him: Puffed up with pride, you claim to be a god. You say that like a god you sit on a throne, surrounded by the seas. You may pretend to be a god, but, no, you are mortal, not divine.

12 “Mortal man,” he said, “grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you[a] on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you.[b] You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil. 16 You were busy buying and selling, and this led you to violence and sin. So I forced you to leave my holy mountain, and the angel who guarded you drove you away from the sparkling gems.

John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.

Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left.”

13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he began to pursue the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14 She was given the two wings of a large eagle in order to fly to her place in the desert, where she will be taken care of for three and a half years, safe from the dragon's attack. 15 And then from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman, so that it would carry her away. 16 But the earth helped the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon's mouth.

Luke 10:Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two[a] men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 Whenever you go into a house, first say, ‘Peace be with this house.’ 6 If someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. 8 Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, 9 heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.’ 10 But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!’ 12 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to that town!

The Unbelieving Towns

13 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago sat down, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! 14 God will show more mercy on the Judgment Day to Tyre and Sidon than to you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell!”

16 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two[b] men came back in great joy. “Lord,” they said, “even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!”

18 Jesus answered them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices

21 At that time Jesus was filled with joy by the Holy Spirit[c] and said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.

ii-Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels;

iii-Isaiah 14:4 When he does this, they are to mock the king of Babylon and say:

“The cruel king has fallen! He will never oppress anyone again!

12 King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground. 13 You were determined to climb up to heaven and to place your throne above the highest stars. You thought you would sit like a king on that mountain in the north where the gods assemble. 14 You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty. 15 But instead, you have been brought down to the deepest part of the world of the dead.

iv-Isaiah 7:14 Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman[a] who is pregnant will have a son and will name him ‘Immanuel.’[b]

v-Ezekiel 28:2 “Mortal man,” he said, “tell the ruler of Tyre what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to him: Puffed up with pride, you claim to be a god. You say that like a god you sit on a throne, surrounded by the seas. You may pretend to be a god, but, no, you are mortal, not divine.

12 “Mortal man,” he said, “grieve for the fate that is waiting for the king of Tyre. Tell him what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying: You were once an example of perfection. How wise and handsome you were! 13 You lived in Eden, the garden of God, and wore gems of every kind: rubies and diamonds; topaz, beryl, carnelian, and jasper; sapphires, emeralds, and garnets. You had ornaments of gold. They were made for you[a] on the day you were created. 14 I put a terrifying angel there to guard you.[b] You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems. 15 Your conduct was perfect from the day you were created until you began to do evil. 16 You were busy buying and selling, and this led you to violence and sin. So I forced you to leave my holy mountain, and the angel who guarded you drove you away from the sparkling gems. 17 You were proud of being handsome, and your fame made you act like a fool. Because of this I hurled you to the ground and left you as a warning to other kings. 18 You did such evil in buying and selling that your places of worship were corrupted. So I set fire to the city and burned it to the ground. All who look at you now see you reduced to ashes. 19 You are gone, gone forever, and all the nations that had come to know you are terrified, afraid that they will share your fate.”

vi-John 12:31 Now is the time for this world to be judged; now the ruler of this world will be overthrown.

14:30 I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,

16:11 and they are wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

vii-Genesis 2:8 Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the East, and there he put the man he had formed.

15 Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it.

viii-Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

ix-Job 1:6 When the day came for the heavenly beings[a] to appear before the LORD, Satan[b] was there among them.

2:2 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD again, Satan was there among them.

38:Good News Translation (GNT)

7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together,

and the heavenly beings[a] shouted for joy.

x-Job 1:6 When the day came for the heavenly beings[a] to appear before the LORD, Satan[b] was there among them. 7 The LORD asked him, “What have you been doing?”

2:2 When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD again, Satan was there among them. 2 The LORD asked him, “Where have you been?”

xi-Genesis 13:7 So quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abram's animals and those who took care of Lot's animals. (At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were still living in the land.)

xii-Deuteronomy 11:24 All the ground that you march over will be yours. Your territory will extend from the desert in the south to the Lebanon Mountains in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Joshua 1:3 As I told Moses, I have given you and all my people the entire land that you will be marching over.

xiii-2 Corinthians 4:4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

xiv-Revelation 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, who fought back with his angels; 8 but the dragon was defeated, and he and his angels were not allowed to stay in heaven any longer. 9 The huge dragon was thrown out—that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die. 12 And so be glad, you heavens, and all you that live there! But how terrible for the earth and the sea! For the Devil has come down to you, and he is filled with rage, because he knows that he has only a little time left.”

13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he began to pursue the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14 She was given the two wings of a large eagle in order to fly to her place in the desert, where she will be taken care of for three and a half years, safe from the dragon's attack. 15 And then from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman, so that it would carry her away. 16 But the earth helped the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon's mouth.

xv-Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now God's salvation has come! Now God has shown his power as King! Now his Messiah has shown his authority! For the one who stood before our God and accused believers day and night has been thrown out of heaven. 11 They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.

xvi-Revelation 12:13 When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he began to pursue the woman who had given birth to the boy. 14 She was given the two wings of a large eagle in order to fly to her place in the desert, where she will be taken care of for three and a half years, safe from the dragon's attack. 15 And then from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman, so that it would carry her away. 16 But the earth helped the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the water that had come from the dragon's mouth. 17 The dragon was furious with the woman and went off to fight against the rest of her descendants, all those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to the truth revealed by Jesus.

xvii-Luke 10:10 After this the Lord chose another seventy-two[a] men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 He said to them, “There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest. 3 Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take a purse or a beggar's bag or shoes; don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 Whenever you go into a house, first say, ‘Peace be with this house.’ 6 If someone who is peace-loving lives there, let your greeting of peace remain on that person; if not, take back your greeting of peace. 7 Stay in that same house, eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for workers should be given their pay. Don't move around from one house to another. 8 Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you, 9 heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.’ 10 But whenever you go into a town and are not welcomed, go out in the streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the Kingdom of God has come near you!’ 12 I assure you that on the Judgment Day God will show more mercy to Sodom than to that town!

The Unbelieving Towns

13 “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you too, Bethsaida! If the miracles which were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have long ago sat down, put on sackcloth, and sprinkled ashes on themselves, to show that they had turned from their sins! 14 God will show more mercy on the Judgment Day to Tyre and Sidon than to you. 15 And as for you, Capernaum! Did you want to lift yourself up to heaven? You will be thrown down to hell!”

16 Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

The Return of the Seventy-Two

17 The seventy-two[b] men came back in great joy. “Lord,” they said, “even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!”

18 Jesus answered them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 20 But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather be glad because your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus Rejoices

21 At that time Jesus was filled with joy by the Holy Spirit[c] and said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.

xviii-Romans 16:20 And God, our source of peace, will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.[a]

Footnotes:

1. Romans 16:20 Some manuscripts omit this sentence.

xix-Hebrews 12:12 As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. 2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God's throne.

xx-Genesis 2:17 except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.[a] You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 2:17 knowledge of what is good and what is bad; or knowledge of everything.

3:3 Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”

2 “We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden,” the woman answered, 3 “except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die.”

4 The snake replied, “That's not true; you will not die. 5 God said that because he knows that when you eat it, you will be like God[a] and know what is good and what is bad.”[b]

Footnotes:

1. Genesis 3:5 God; or the gods.

2. Genesis 3:5 know what is good and what is bad; or know everything.

xxi-Matthew 12:30 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.

Mark 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

Luke 11:23 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.

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