-1- The Fears of Herod -Mark 6-14-16-- -2- The Courage of John the Baptist -Mark 6-17-18-- -3- The Cowardliness of Herod -Mark 6-19-29-.

The rise and fall of Babylon the Great is a history that begins with God's judgment upon idolaters that built the tower of Babel -Genesis 11- and ends in the yet future judgment upon Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots -Revelation 17-. The history of Babylon is a picture of rebellion against the Lord. It is a history of establishing absolute power in an earthly ruler. It is a history of establishing a false religion that is hostile to the one and only true religion established by the Lord in Scripture. Thus, to trace the history of Babylon the--Great is to trace the ongoing battle of man's futile attempt to exert his will over God's sovereign will.--It is a fascinating history through time and an instructive history that all of the attempts of man to conquer the Lord -no matter how powerful the ruler, the nation, or the religion- will certainly be in vain and will surely receive the just judgment of the Lord. This is a wake-up call to those who have ears to hear-let our trust not be in the might, riches, and resources of nations and religions that rebel against our King, but in Him who has crushed the Babylonian heresy throughout history and will do so once again in the future.

-1- The Commission of the Apostles of Christ -Mark 6-7, 12-13-- -2- The Provision of the Apostles of Christ -Mark 6-8-10-- -3- The Reception of the Apostles of Christ -Mark 6-11-.

Though I rejoice that Roe v. Wade was reversed this past Friday, nevertheless, a national constitution that does not explicitly protect the lives of unborn children and does not forbid states from taking the lives of unborn children is evidence that Jesus Christ is not the acknowledged King of that nation -even if He truly is King of kings-. I am thankful to God for every life of a child that will be spared -through the court's reversing--Roe v. Wade-, but until this nation constitutionally acknowledges Jesus as King and His Law as the supreme law of the land, abortion within this nation will continue to be a sign of God's judgment upon this nation.--When Jesus is acknowledged King of a nation, abortion will not be permitted within the boundaries of that nation -abortion is no better than the abomination of causing children to pass through the fire in the Old--Testament-. A Supreme Court which rules that there is no constitutional right to murder unborn children, but then sends the same babies to the state government to be murdered is indicative of a nation that is yet under the judgment of Christ the King. True reformation in this nation will only come when Jesus is constitutionally--acknowledged to be -King of kings, and Lord of lords- and when His Moral Law is made the supreme law of the land. That day will come by means of hearts that have been changed by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It will come as God has promised. May God hasten that time.--Jesus Christ is twice given the title in Scripture, -King of kings, and Lord of lords- -1 Timothy 6-15- Revelation--19-16-. That title is reversed in Revelation 17-14- -Lord of lords, and King of kings.-

-1- The Mercy of Christ in Returning to Nazareth -Mark 6-1-- -2- The Unbelief of Nazareth in Scorning Christ -Mark 6-2-3-- -3- The Restraint of Christ in Manifesting His Power in Nazareth -Mark 6-4-6-.

With all of the corruption and destruction of God-ordained institutions like marriage-family, the church, and civil government, it leads one to ask, -Where is all this leading-- When the biblical and historical Reformed faith is under such serious attack from government, education, corporations, radical social organizations, and churches, the future can look very discouraging and fearful.----What brings the Christian peace of mind in the midst of such chaos is the assurance that Christ's kingdom will crush all that is hostile to it. No matter how great the tyranny and persecution of earthly kingdoms against Jesus Christ and His saints, we know that their plots and plans will come to nothing. They will be trampled underfoot by the King of kings. Our God laughs at their wicked conspiracies to dethrone Christ -Psalm 2-.----Without that confidence found in Psalm 2, we have every reason to panic and to lie awake at night endlessly worrying what will become of us and our children, what will become of Christ's Church, what will become of the truth of Jesus Christ- But we know from the text before us today that we are on the winning team, and it is impossible that our King can lose. We can face the future with hope rather than fear. Christ and His kingdom will prevail. All nations -even previously hostile nations- will flow into His kingdom -Isaiah 2-2-.----We are given in our text a divine overview of this battle in history and its outcome- -1- The Unity of These Hostile Kingdoms -Daniel 2-31-- -2- The Diversity of These Hostile Kingdoms -Daniel 2-32-33-- -3- The Victory of Christ's Kingdom over These Hostile Kingdoms -Daniel 2-34-35-.

-1- The Woman's Desperate Need Revealed -Mark 5-25-26-- -2- The Woman's Desperate Faith Exercised -Mark 5-27-29-- -3- The Lord's Careful Distinction Between Two Different Faiths -Mark 5-30-34-.