ERC Sundays

Pastor Matt continues our series through Revelation but takes a turn from wrath and fear and takes a look at a life that is awake and alive, lived in the freedom of the debt paid by Jesus.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris discuss God's wrath, how we justify cheating on God (sin) and the fallacies of making reservations.

Pastor Chris continues through Revelation in Chapter 14, touching on the wrath of God and the imperative need of the patient endurance of Christians.

Revelation 13 – Show notes – 3.10.25

(1) John’s vision of a beast rising from the sea.

(Guzik) Because ancientIsrael was wary of the sea, it was afigure of evil and chaos that seemed to resist God, though the resistance was unsuccessful:

 (Psalm 74:12-13)

 (Psalm 89:8-9)

(Isaiah 57:20)

 “There are a number of suggestions as to why the diadems are placed on the horns rather than on the heads of the beast. The most plausible is that his claim to authority rests on brute force.” (Mounce)

And on his horns ten crowns:

(Guzik) This is something different about the beast comparedto the dragon of Revelation 12:3, who had seven diadems on his heads. The seven crowns of the dragon expressed his strength and power, because seven is a number associated with strength and completeness. The ten crowns of the beast express his rule over a group of tennations.

i. Most commentators think that the ten horns aredistributed among the seven heads, but David Hocking sees all ten horns upon one of the heads. The figure of ten horns also associates this beast with thebeast of Daniel 7:7.

ii. InDaniel’s vision, the ten horns specifically represented ten kingdoms that this final world dictator hasauthority over (Daniel 7:24). In John’s vision the ten crowns onthe ten horns emphasize this idea.

(2) The description of the beast of the sea again connectsit to images from Daniel 7.

Like a leopard… a bear… a lion: In this vision, Godused images from Daniel’s vision of Daniel 7 tocommunicate the identity and nature of this beast to John. Daniel 7 usedfour animals (beasts) to describe the course of human government fromDaniel’s time until the ultimate reign of Jesus on this earth.

i. The first three animals are a lion (inDaniel, a picture of the Babylonian Empire), a bear (a pictureof Medo-Persian Empire), and a leopard (apicture of the Greek Empire). The fourth animal was a dreadful, indescribable beast which shared the most terrifying characteristics of the previous beasts, yet represents the final world empire under the leadership of a Satanicdictator (Daniel 7:7-8). (Guzik)

      Mounce writes: “The beast has always been, and will always be, in a final intensified manifestation, the deification of secular authority”(Mounce).

The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority:

(Guzik) This world leaderis really empowered and supported by Satan. Through this man, Satan willexpress his own desire and authority. In this, the beast takes the offerthat Jesus refused (Matthew 4:8-10).

i. The beast is not an ordinaryman. He is called thebeast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (Revelation 11:7, 17:8), andordinary men do not come from there. “One who hails from that place must eitherbe a dead man brought up again from the dead, or some evil spirit which takespossession of a living man… In either case, the Beast, as a person, is anextraordinary and supernatural being.” (Joseph Seiss)

ii. It may bethat Satan himself takes possession of this man, and this is what makes himexceptional. This was the case with Judas, who was possessed by Satan (John 13:27).

(7-10) A Warning to All    (Tim Chester) The threat here is power – the power ofthe state or employer or mob, or the virtual violence of an online mob. Sometimeswe can’t escape this. We don’t try to provoke opposition, but sometimes it’sinevitable. So our response must be patient endurance and faithfulness.

(15) The image of the Beast

iii. This idolatrous image is what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul spokeof as theabomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15,and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).It is an idolatrous image set up in the holy place of a rebuilt temple; it isan abomination in the sense ofbeing supreme idolatry, and it is desolation in the sense thatit will bring the judgment described by the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

“The power of the firstbeast called for patient endurance. The propaganda of the second beast callsfor wisdom” (Chester)

Pastor Matt walks through some perspectives on the land and sea beasts, the unholy trinity of the tribulation, thoughts on the antichrist, and the mark of the beast. Spoiler: Jesus still wins.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris discuss what temperature they'd prefer an unchanging climate to be, and the things left unsaid about Revelation 12 from Sunday's message.

***SHOW NOTES***

Sunday Leftover Notes 3/3/25

12:1-2

In this symbolism we must discern Israel, the chosen people of God. ‘She comes standing upon the Old Testament revelation of reflected light and clothed with the New Testament revelation which is as the sun shining in his strength’ (Torrance). The twelve stars will be the twelve patriarchs or the tribes which descended from them. The symbolism is that of Joseph’s dream (Gen. 37:9; cf. also Test. Naph. 5:3–4). In view of this Old Testament symbolism it is unnecessary to see a reference to pagan mythology. (Tyndale Commentary)

As God covers Himself “in light as with a garment (Ps 104:2), so the woman is clothed with the sun. The world may despise the true Israel (the church) and hold it in lowest esteem, but from God’s point of view she is a radiant bride (Jer 2:2). (Mounce pg. 232)

12:3-4

The seven heads of the dragon depict the universality of his power. The ten hors recall the fourth best of Daniel 7, awesome and powerful with its great iron teeth and ten horns (Dan 7:7, 24)…

Crowns.. They are Satan’s presumptuous claim of royal power over against the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” upon whose head are many diadems (19:12, 16)

(Mounce 233)

12:7-12

Satan’s defeat in heaven does not mean an end to physical suffering on earth. The saints here continue to overcome the devil as they overcome the world—by faithfully testifying of Christ’s victory even to the point of death…

As Pharaoh pursed Israel into the desert, Satan pursues God’s people…

It is clear that regardless of the woman’s (the church/Israel) corporate survival, individual believers can still suffer death from the serpent’s mouth…The price they must be prepared to pay for this testimony is death (Rev 12:11)

(Keener pg. 320-325)

It is the irretrievable loss of any further opportunity to fulfill his wicked plan that sends Satan out in such a great anger against the church…He (Satan) put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ (Jn 13:2), and was out to undermine the faith of Peter (Lk 22:31). His false prophets would “deceive the elect—if it that were possible” (Matt 24:24; Rev 13:11-15).

It should be no surprise that as the end draws near, the hostility will increase in intensity. 

(Mounce pg. 236-238)

12:13-17

Exodus typology is woven throughout this entire episode…The two wings of the great eagle that made possible her escape echo the words of God from Sinai, “I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself” (Ex 19:4). The river of water that flows from the dragon’s mouth may reflect Pharaoh’s charge to drown the male children of the Israelites in the Nile (Ex 1:22). The opening of the earth is reminiscent of the destruction of the men of Korah when in the wilderness they were swallowed by the earth and went don alive into Sheol (Num 16:31-33)

(Mounce pg. 240)

Retreat or Engagement?

The desert theme is important. Some survivalist groups in the U.S. have withdrawn into the wilderness in order to survive the coming troubles. Such behavior may prolong life in the event of a nuclear or perhaps biochemical holocaust, but it misses the point of Revelation. The rest of this book teaches that our goal as Christians is not to escape suffering or death but to announce Jesus to the world. We must not withdraw from sinners. (though we must withdraw spiritually from the world’s corruption), but invade the world with the message and example of God’s redeeming love. (Keener pg. 331)

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris offer up a double helping of leftovers as they wrap-up the recap of this week's message on Revelation 8-11.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris reflect on some additional takeaways from Revelation 8 & 9 and discuss which is more difficult to fight off: a horse-sized duck or a herd of duck-sized horses.

Pastor Matt does a rapid-fire overview of the Seven Trumpets, and explains why God's love still overshadows his prolific wrath portrayed in Revelation.

Pastor Matt and Pastor Chris recap the weekend, discuss if they'd rather have a personal chef or a personal trainer, and take a longer look at Chapters 6 & 7 in Revelation.