Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Illustration -

Everlasting Arms, Overshadowing Wings

The best way to handle danger is simply to be where God tells you to be.

When physician L. Nelson Bell and his wife Virginia felt God calling them to China as missionaries, they gave scant thought to danger.

It came upon them nonetheless in the form of the Japanese invasion of China.

The Bells were in Tsingkiangpu, the provincial capital of Kiangsu, and the enemy advanced against them from all four directions.

Older missionaries urged the Bells to flee, for the Japanese were known for their cruelty.

But Dr. Bell had been studying the Old Testament, especially Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah, and he developed a strong conviction that it was God’s will for them to remain in Tsingkiangpu.

Virginia agreed, writing to her mother in America, “The children are just as happy as can be, and if things come to worst here, I’m going to stick right with them and keep them happily engaged.

Our God is able, and that ‘Restraining Hand’ is all-loving and all-powerful.”

Dr. Bell later wrote that the decision to remain “deepened and confirmed our sense of the closeness of God.

He was right there with us.

Underneath with everlasting arms, over us with overshadowing wings—we were conscious of His peace and presence in a way that I don’t think we would ever have been otherwise.

There was prayer, constant prayer, in our heart.

And also constant thanksgiving and praise for the consciousness of His presence.

You had no one else to depend on.

It was a sense of safety within His keeping.”

[Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed.

(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 381–382.]

Main Thought: The servants of God will be secured by God accomplish His purposes upon the earth.

The servants of God will be secured by God accomplish His purposes upon the earth.

[Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 604.]

Sub-intro:

Explain the Context - The war in heaven has led to the expulsion of the dragon who now brings his war upon the earth.

Body:

I.

The Dragon’s Focused Fierceness ().

[Thomas M. Strouse, To the Seven Churches: A Commentary on the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, Selected Works of Dr. Thomas M. Strouse (Bible Baptist Theological Press, 40 Country Squire Rd., Cromwell, CT 06461, 2013), 499.]

A. His Perception of Judgment (v.

13a).

Having been defeated by the perfect life of the Saviour, His work on the cross, subsequent death, resurrection and ascension, and now by expulsion from Heaven, the Devil focused his wrath on the nation through whom his Victor came.

[Thomas M. Strouse, To the Seven Churches: A Commentary on the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ, Selected Works of Dr. Thomas M. Strouse (Bible Baptist Theological Press, 40 Country Squire Rd., Cromwell, CT 06461, 2013), 499.]

B. His Persecution of the Woman (v.

13b).

Note - this persecution of the Jewish nation is all according to the Lord’s prediction:

Lk. 21:20-21

II.

The Woman’s Flight to Freedom ().

A. On Eagles’ Wings (v.

14a).

B. Her Place of Nourishment (v.

14b).

Note - the play on the word “place” within the text - candlestick’s (), islands (), Woman (, ), Angels (), Armageddon’s (), & the Sinner’s lack of a place ().

Note - it is also passive “she is nourished”

Note - Hebraic parallels between and .

Note - 3&1/2 years corresponds to -

Dan. 9:27

Note - “from the face of the serpent” which offered Eve such false hope now glares upon Israel with hateful wrath.

III.

The Dragon’s Foul Flood ().

A. Intent on Drowning the Woman ().

Note - Perhaps a fulfillment of - (though water may also be literal here, see , )

Is.

B. Intercepted by the Earth ().

Note - word study on “helped” -

Mk. 9:22

Acts 21:

IV.

The Dragon’s Furious Fighting ().

A. Wrath Upon the Woman (v.

17a).

Messiah’s Birth

Tribulation

Nation of Israel Born in a Day

B. War with Her Remnant (v.

17b).

The Reasons - Commandment Keepers & Witness Bearers

a

The divine protection given the woman enraged the dragon even more, but all he could do was redirect his animosity: ...The dragon had to redirect his anger from the Son to the woman in 12:5 when the Son escaped his clutches.

That increased his rage.

He lost his place in heaven in 12:8, 9, 12, angering him even more.

At this point the woman has escaped to a place of refuge, leaving him only the woman’s remaining seed to vent his fury on.

The repeated frustration of his efforts explains the furious persecution the dragon proceeds to inflict on the faithful.

He goes away “to make war with” ...“the rest of her seed” ...who apparently did not go with their fellow Israelites to the place of refuge.

Besides the Son, the woman, earlier identified as national Israel, has other children who are distinguished from the group of Jewish people whom the dragon cannot touch.

These are scattered followers of the Lamb who did not reach the appointed place in the wilderness prepared for the main body of people symbolized by the woman.

[Robert L. Thomas, : An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1995), 141.]

a

...this remnant are those who (1) “keep the commandments of God,” and (2) “have the testimony of Jesus.”

These clearly are Jews converted to Christ.

One of the great purposes of the Tribulation is precisely to that end.

As the two witnesses preached and the 144,000 are converted, they in turn fan out preaching the gospel to the Jew first and then to any gentiles who will listen.

It is clear that the Olivet Discourse as recorded in and is directed to believing Jews in that day.

They will have turned to Christ and are just beginning to explore the New Testament.

The Holy Spirit, perhaps working through the 144,000 witnesses, may direct their attention to the Olivet Discourse to give them guidance as to what is taking place about them.

It is to this remnant of believing Jews that the devil turns the fury of His wrath.

[David H. Sorenson, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary - Hebrews through Revelation, vol.

11, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary (Northstar Ministries, 2007), 464.]

Conclusion:

a

The LORD will bring a remnant out of the Tribulation (cf. ).

Paul confirmed this truth, stating, “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved” ().

This saved remnant will enter into the Millennium as a nation born in a day, Isaiah predicted, saying, “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

Who hath heard such a thing?

who hath seen such things?

Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?

or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” ().

[Strouse, 507.]

Note - The Chronology of the events of the prophecy of this chapter -