The woman in this chapter is a representation of God's people, likely the end times Messianic believers. There's a parallel to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her crown has 12 stars, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Clothed in the sun, heavenly light. She stands over the moon; it's a symbol of darkness, as if she has dominion over darkness. There is one "people of God": not a specific cultural group, but simply those who accept Jesus as Lord. Salvation comes from faith in the Son alone!

Satan is the devourer, intent on the destruction of God's children. Jesus is the Child who came to defeat the devourer.

All people must choose either to run to Satan and be destroyed, or run to the Father, who gives us everlasting life in His presence!

The model for responding to God's calling is to leave everything you have and follow Him! As we do so, we're called to teach the Word, even if we're not called to preach as a pastor.

We are to be concerned with God's Kingdom on earth, with an eye to the future hope of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus came from Heaven, and shines down from on high to bring light to the world.

Jesus is a challenge and disruption to all earthly politics; He calls sin what it is, and calls sinners to repent.

Heaven's party matters more than any earthly political party. We are to respond immediately to Jesus's call, and become what He intends for us: fishers of men!

Jesus begins His earthly ministry. Pastor Josh explains the meaning behind the structure of this text, focusing on chiasms, which allow us to understand more clearly the focus of a given passage.

Jesus is intentional regarding His ministry strategy, and we should be too! He begins in the hostile gentile territory of Galilee, focusing on the poor, the crippled, the outcasts. The brotherhood of Christ crosses boundaries! We must be a people of peace.

When God calls a person, two possible negative responses are pride and indifference. In pride, we are ignorant and self-centered. We fail to recognize our fallen nature, our insufficiency.

In indifference, we yawn at the idea of a relationship with God in favor of other interests. The indifferent must come to Him, ask and receive, be zealous and repent!

We have a command to self control, and must control our indifference, fight to develop zeal! Develop good habits.

Observing the structure of this passage, its focal point is the coming of the Kingdom of God!

Jesus, the light of the world, came into the darkest place imaginable to bring light to the world. He's faithful when we're faithless.

He calls the supremely unqualified, because He loves us. It delights Him, and through this our lives bring glory to Him.

We are justified not because we're the cream of the crop, but because we deeply understand our unworthiness, and bow humbly before Him in worship.

We earned none of His favor, and yet it's eternal-- nothing can separate us from the love of God!

Pastor Josh examines Revelation 11, and finds many connections between it and Psalms 1 and 2. Both Psalms make references to the life and ministry of Jesus, focusing on the crucifixion. Revelation 11 mirrors the events and warnings predicted in Psalms 1 and 2.

Our sins put Jesus on the cross, but He is willing to make peace with us if we submit to Him and "kiss the Son". If we don't, we will perish. We're either a tree, or we're chaff.

All men are sinners, and Christ has come to save sinners!

God's Kingdom has great things in store for us after this life, but it is also living and active and moving today. While we're here, we're called to be warriors for Christ, boldly praying and standing for Him, rooted in His Word and not blown in the wind.