THE SEVEN-FOLD CRUSHING OF THE SERPENT’S HEAD
I. INTRODUCTION: WALKING WITH JESUS ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
A. Many people wonder how to develop passion for Jesus. The question becomes, “How did Jesus engender passion
in His disciples for Him.” In Luke 24 we find the disciples have gone through the worst season of their lives. They believe
their master and hoped for Messiah is dead. Peter has denied the Lord. They are scattered and hiding from the
authorities. Passion is at an all time low to say the least. How will the Lord rally His troops?
B. The resurrected Jesus begins by taking two disciples on a guided tour of the Scriptures in regard to the sufferings
of the Messiah and His following glory. During the encounter, their hearts burned within them. Reading this story, many
times I have wished that I could have eavesdropped on their conversation. The truth is that I can. God has sent us His
Spirit who will take all that is known of Jesus and give that knowledge to us. The Spirit searches the deep things of God
and freely makes them known to us.
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the
Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He
expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25–27)
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and
while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these
last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the
worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things
by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they. (Hebrews 1:1–4)
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things
which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For
the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except
the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things
that have been freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–12, emphasis added)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring
to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His
own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me,
for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said
that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13–15)
C. The highest pleasure of the human race is for God to reveal Himself to us. This is more pleasurable, intoxicating,
wondrous, and terrifying than any other thing in the universe. We were made to experience His depths, to search the vast
ocean of the Deity, to mine the treasures that creation longs to look into.
It is by beholding the glory of Christ by faith that we are spiritually edified and built up in this world, for as we behold His
glory, the life and power of faith grow stronger. It is by faith that we grow to love Christ. So if we desire strong faith and
powerful love, which give us rest, peace and satisfaction, we must seek them by diligently beholding the glory of Christ by
faith. In this duty I desire to live and to die. On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see of
the glory of Christ, the more the painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes and I will be more and more crucified
to this world. It will become to me like something dead and putrid, impossible for me to enjoy.
D. I have found the unfolding of Jesus and redemption in the Scriptures to be the most exhilarating discipline of my
Christian walk. In doing so the beauty of Jesus comes to light, the story of redemption makes sense, and I find myself
within the story and know how to cooperate with the plan of God for the restoration of all things.
E. At the end of the age, God’s strategy will be to unfold the splendor of His Son in such a way that lovesickness,
wholeheartedness, and exploits of faith are produced in His people. This morning I want to take us on the journey from
Genesis to Revelation in the unfolding of the beauty of Jesus as He reveals the Father, redeems humanity, and crushes
the serpent’s head, knowing that as we do the Holy Spirit will cause our hearts to burn.
II. FIRST WAVE: THE PROMISE OF THE COMING SEED
A. Genesis 3 reveals to us the tragic moment when humanity entered the rebellion of Satan. Somewhere between
Genesis 1:31, when God saw that all things were good, and Genesis 3, a conflict began in Heaven. Tradition holds that
Satan, a powerful and high-ranking angel, became proud of his angelic grandeur and exalted himself to be like God. He
sought the worship of God’s created order and secured the following of a third of Heaven’s angels.
B. The rebellion expanded to Earth as Satan established his kingdom in the natural realm by seducing God’s most
prized creature. Adam and Eve’s decision was over much more than what fruit to eat. It was over whom humanity should
listen to and follow. Humanity joined the resistance against God’s plan, and the consequences of this rebellion have
changed the entire landscape of the created order. The effects have been disastrous and deadly.
1. Humanity, in following Satan, fell from God’s Kingdom. Through the Fall, lordship over the earth transferred over
to Satan. The kingdom of darkness had a stronghold, and the kingdoms of the world would come under the sway of the
evil one.
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8–9, emphasis
added)
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 John 5:19, emphasis added)
2. Physical, spiritual, and eternal death entered into the human experience. We were spiritually separated from God and
physically condemned to die.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
(Genesis 2:17, emphasis added)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, emphasis added)
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22, emphasis added)
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27, emphasis added)
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which
is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The
sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were
judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12–15, emphasis added)
3. The guilt of sin and God’s just punishment of sin entered into the human experience.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18)
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of
wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds.”
(Romans 2:5–6)
4. Creation would experience the groan of the effects of sin.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was
subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:19–21, emphasis
added)
5. Humanity would not only experience separation from God, but the effect of sin would cause social separation and
injustice.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
C. The promise of the coming seed: after the Fall, God prophesied of a coming King who would make all things right
by crushing the powers of darkness. The unfolding of all revelation will concern the coming of this Anointed One who will
destroy the works of darkness, make all things new, and bless all the families of the earth. The Bible is the record of how
God would bring forth the Promised One.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and
you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)
III. SECOND: ABRAHAMIC COVENANT, THE FORMATION OF ISRAEL, & THE TRACING OF THE LINEAGE
A. Abraham
1. Covenant
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that
I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed." (Gen. 12:1-3)
2. Promise to Jacob in Gen. 28 – The Open Heaven Vision where God promises resources to ensure the coming
seed through Jacob’s lineage.
Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the
Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and
multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and
your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:15–18)
3. Tribe of Judah – Gen 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the
obedience of the people. (Gen. 49:10)
B. The Exodus and the Formation of a Nation in Palestine – Israel is to be a Kingdom of Priests – A Nation to Reflect
God’s Benevolent Leadership
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above
all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words
which you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Ex. 19:5-6)
C. The House of David and the Tabernacle of David
"When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your
body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and
with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from
before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be
established forever."'" (2 Sam. 7:12-16)
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be
called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and
peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment
and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Is. 9:6-7)
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and
of the fear of the LORD. 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor
decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek
of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. 6 "The wolf also shall dwell with the
lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little
child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall
eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the
viper's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the
LORD As the waters cover the sea. 10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to
the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." (Is. 11:1-10)
He is a rod from the stem of Jesse and a Branch from the roots of Jesse, but also He is called “a Root of Jesse” (11:11).
He after Jesse and before Jesse. This is similar to John the Baptist saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes
after me is preferred before me, for He was before me'" (John 1:15).
'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and
righteousness in the earth. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by
which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' 17 "For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a
man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; (Jer. 33:15-17)
Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From
His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD.
He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of
peace shall be between them both."' (Zech. 6:12-13)
IV. THIRD: THE INCARNATION AND THE MESSIANIC RULE INAUGERATED BY JESUS
A. The Incarnation
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel
said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!". . . . 30 Then the angel
said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and
the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His
kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the
angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you;
therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has
also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God
nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:26-37)
1. It secured and guaranteed Christian redemption. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself”
(2 Corinthians 5:19). When God took on flesh, He was making an emphatic statement that He would redeem humanity.
He linked humanity to Himself; our destiny is wrapped up and intertwined in Him. The Incarnation was God’s big “YES”
to humanity.
2. It secured and guaranteed the possibility of our regeneration and participation in the divine life. When Christ came
into the world, eternal life became embodied in human form and became a fountain of life for all who would receive Him.
3. It reestablished human dominion on the Earth. God established His government through human beings again.
What was lost in the Garden has now been restored by the person of Jesus. A human King came through Judah’s line
from the House of David, and will have an everlasting dominion.
B. Jesus’ Baptism – The Messianic Ministry Is Begun
John Baptizes Jesus (Matt 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34) When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that
Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form
like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
(Luke 3:21-22)
C. Temptation in the Wilderness – Jesus under the anointing of the Holy Spirit as a man binds the strongman. The
Living Word quotes the written Word ender the anointing of the Holy Spirit to not only resist Satan’s temptation but to
dismantle Satan’s stronghold in the region.
D. Open Heaven - John 1:51
1. After prophesying to Nathanael Jesus, blessed by Nathanael’s fascinated heart, tells him yet more. “Nathanael,
you haven’t seen anything yet. An open heaven is coming Nathanael, and you cannot even imagine what is going to take
place. Angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” It is the hour where the Kingdom of God prevails in the
person of His Son.
2. Jesus is referring back to Gen. 28:10-17 when Jacob was fleeing for his life from His brother, Esau, after he had
tricked Esau out of the blessing of his father, Isaac. It was prophesied that the younger would rule over the older, yet it
all looks like it is in shambles. The promise in Gen 3:15 and Gen. 22:18 is now in jeopardy. Jacob falls asleep and he
dreams of an open heaven where a kingdom is promised to come through his seed and it will bless all the nations of the
earth. He sees the very “gate of heaven” where the divine activity of heaven is connected with the governing of earth to
ensure the establishment of the promised lineage in this Promised Land. He sees the very “house of God.” Jacob is
gazing upon the very Throne of God and this “gate” or “ladder” which connects this Throne to earth. A ladder will be set
up from earth to heaven, a divine connection, where divine agents, called angels, will ensure the government of God in
the seed will be established among the nations of the earth.
3. Jacob has a divine encounter where God assures him of divine assistance in carrying out the promises made to
his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham. “Heaven open” is not a figurative expression. Jesus is describing the
very centerpiece of God’s redemptive purposes: the bringing together of heaven and earth. If Nathanael is so easily
fascinated by a word of knowledge. Jesus declares, “You haven’t seen anything yet. Wait until you see the apex of
redemptive history when in the God-man all things in heaven and earth are brought together. Wait until the full resource
of heaven is at the disposal of the King of Kings to bring in an unprecedented hour of the reign of God among all the
nations. Every sphere of life will be brought under the influence of a King who rules from the Right Hand of the Majesty
and has all heavenly resources at His disposal.”
4. Though the whole world presently lies under the sway of the evil one, the promised Kingdom of God in His Son
will come. In the person of Jesus the Kingdom is established and will be fully realized. That is why Jesus depicts Himself
as the ladder in John 1:51. Jesus is the Mediator of the Kingdom. He is the one who is inaugurating an age of the
in-breaking of the Kingdom. The King has come in the flesh. The divine Son of Man is inaugurating the beginning of a
glorious day that is the first-fruits of a fuller reign to come in the Millennium. Jesus is the ladder. He is the one bringing
the divine activity of God to overthrow the kingdom of darkness with the very finger of God. He will progressively bring
to pass partial, substantial, and ultimate rule of God.
E. Jesus initiates a divine season in Galilee where healing, deliverance, and the preaching of salvation is going forth
with unopposed power and authority.
1. Matt 4:23-25 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria;
and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon
-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him -- from Galilee, and from
Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. NKJV
2. Matt 9:35-36 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel
of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
3. Matt 12:28-30 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or
how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will
plunder his house.
4. Matt 14:13-21 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the
multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and
He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying,
"This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and
buy themselves food." 16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." 18 He said, "Bring them here to Me." 19 Then
He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to
heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they
all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten
were about five thousand men, besides women and children. NKJV
5. Matt 14:34-36 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that
place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him
that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. NKJV
6. Matt 15:29-32 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down
there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they
laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the
maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
7. Matt 15:33 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they
have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they
faint on the way."
F. Four Important Verses
1. Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your
name." 18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are
written in heaven." NKJV
2. Luke 13:31-33 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod
wants to kill You." 32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and
tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.' 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following;
for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. NKJV
3. John 9:1-5 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him,
saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor
his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me
while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." NKJV
4. Luke 22:53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the
power of darkness."
V. FOURTH: THE CROSS
A. The atonement is also viewed as having destroyed the works of the devil and as setting humanity free from the
grip and slavery of the enemy. The enemy of God, who deceived us in the Garden usurped our authority over creation,
loses his authority over humanity. Sin is atoned, and power is given to humanity to overcome temptation and sin.
1. The weapon of soul-destroying sin and guilt is taken out of Satan’s hand. He is disarmed of the single weapon that
can condemn us—unforgiven sin…only unforgiven sin can condemn the soul and make death a door to hell, not heaven.
2. Scriptures:
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all -- 37 that word
you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all
who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10: 36-38)
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:56–57)
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death
nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37–39)
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge
in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him,
having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was
contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers,
He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13–15)
In the Greek, it’s the sense that He stripped the enemy bare. He disarmed him.
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through
death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed
of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:14
VI. FIFTH : PENTECOST AND THE FORMATION OF THE CHURCH – GREATER WORKS THAN THESE
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the age." Amen.(Mt. 28:18-20)
A. The book of Acts began with a small band of 120 in an upper room and ended with Paul in the capital of the
Roman Empire sharing the Gospel with all who would listen.
B. Jerusalem would witness the miraculous power of the name of Jesus on a regular basis at Solomon’s Porch.
C. Satan would lose his primary tool of persecution in Saul of Tarsus, and Saul, renamed, Paul, would become the
hardest and most fruitful laborer of the Gospel, planting churches throughout Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, Rome,
and perhaps Spain.
D. Within four centuries the Church overtook all known religions in the Roman Empire.
VII. SIXTH: JESUS BEGINS THE STRATEGIC STRIKE THROUGH THE PRAYER MOVEMENT AND SATAN LOSES
HIS HIGH GROUND
A. Rev. 4 & 5
B. Rev. 12
And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but
they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that
serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,"Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our
God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and
night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and
they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the
inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that
he has a short time." (Rev. 12:7-12)
1. Satan’s power is reduced. He loses his strong hold in the heavenly places. He loses his place of spiritual
authority. God allowed him to have this place for a limited season due to the sin of humanity. The Bible calls Satan the
“prince of the power of the air.”
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among
whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and
were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Eph. 2:1-3)
2. The Temporal Judgments –Jesus begins to weaken the forces of darkness by loosing the seals, trumpets, and
bowls. Why the process? Because God uses the very battle to purify the saints and remove the props from unbelievers
so that He can bring the greatest amount of people to the deepest levels of love possible.
3. Partnership – The Ultimate Open Heaven
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,"Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of
His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast
down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their
lives to the death. (Rev. 12:10-11)
a. Acts 2:17 happens in grand fashion. No more accusation of the saints. The prayers, songs, and proclamation of
the saints are filling the heavens.
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show
wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned
into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. (Acts 2:17-20)
b. The Holy Spirit will release Three Unprecedented Activities
(1) Restore the First Commandment to First Place
(2) Usher in the Great Harvest through an Unprecedented Demonstration of the Power of God in Apostolic Preaching
and Signs and Wonders
(3) Release the Temporal Judgments of God
c. Romans 16:20 and Rev. 2:26-27 is taking place.
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
(Rom. 16:20)
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations -- 27 'He shall rule
them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' -- as I also have received from My Father;
(Rev. 2:26-27)
4. The Witness – The Saints overcome
a. The battle moves to the earth and the people of God are going to play a crucial role. We are going to enter into
the mystery of Gospel. We are going to overcome the onslaught of Satan by three crucial realities.
b. THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB – the Potency of the Blood
c. The Word of Their Testimony
(1) Spiritual Reality – Truth in the Inward Parts
(2) Wielding the Word of God as a Sword – Messengers Preaching the Truth of the Events which are Transpiring.
5. They Did Not Love Their Lives Unto Death - We are going to walk as Jesus walked and pick up our cross and follow
Him. The Paradox of Death and Resurrection.
(1) Believers will be hated by all nations. Yet, it will be fuel for the spreading of the gospel to all the nations.
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And
then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up
and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to
the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations,
and then the end will come. (Mt. 24:9-14)
(2) Martyrdom will release a heavenly prayer movement that will release the Great Harvest and the judgments of God
upon the evil one.
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?" 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a
little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was
completed. (Rev. 6:10-11)
(3) Living for Someone Worth Dying For.
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
(Acts 5:41)
(4) Comfort
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
(5) The end-time prayer movement will shift the power base of Satan from the second heavens to the
C. At the end of the age the Holy Spirit will be active in three unprecedented ways.
1. The Holy Spirit will restore the first commandment to first place in the Church. Jesus’ Heart Cry in John 17 is that we
would be with Him where He is, we would behold His glory, and fall madly in love with Him like the Father loves Him. The
Father will answer this prayer, and it will disrupt the whole earth. When God inflames the human heart on a corporate
global level, it will challenge every wicked system, every power base, every worldly influence. This will stun the whole
globe. I so not think we understand the full implications of this.
John 17:24-26 "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My
glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world
has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them
Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Deut 6:4-9 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall eshall talk of
them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind
them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts
of your house and on your gates. NKJV
Luke 10:27-28 So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" 28 And He said to him, "You have answered
rightly; do this and you will live." NKJV
Isa 4:2 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent
and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped. NKJV
2. The Holy Spirit will gather the great harvest through an unprecedented demonstration of the power of God leading
to one billion souls being saved.
3. The Holy Spirit will release the temporal judgments of the Lord – Three Specific Reasons For God’s Temporal
Judgments
a. The Primary Reason Is To Remove Everything That Hinders Love.
Haggai 2:6 "For thus says the LORD of hosts:'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and
dry land; NKJV
Hebrews 12:26-27 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only
the earth, but also heaven." 27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken,
as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Zeph 2:11 The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall
worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.
Psalms 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the
simple; 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening
the eyes; 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous
altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can
understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let
them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the
words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your
judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 2:17-19 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD
alone will be exalted in that day, 18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish. 19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And
into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth
mightily.
Hosea 2:6-7 "Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns, And wall her in, So that she cannot find her paths.
7 She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go
and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.'
Psalms 72:1-2 Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king's Son. 2 He will judge Your
people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice.
Isaiah 4:2-6 In that day the Branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be
excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped. 3 And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and
remains in Jerusalem will be called holy -- everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has
washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment
and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her
assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be
a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a
shelter from storm and rain.
Hebrews 12:10-11 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we
may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV
b. To Aid In Gathering The Great Harvest.
Zephaniah 2:11 The LORD will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall
worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations.
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your
judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
c. To Release God’s Vengeance Upon Those Who Persecute His Church.
Psalms 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Psalms 9:19-20 Arise, O LORD, Do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged in Your sight. 20 Put them in fear,
O LORD, That the nations may know themselves to be but men.
Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the
judgment You have commanded!
Psalms 11:5-6 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. 6 Upon the
wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.
Isaiah 24:21 It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, And on the
earth the kings of the earth.
Isaiah 63:1-7 The LORD in Judgment and Salvation Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah,
This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength? -- "I who speak in righteousness,
mighty to save." 2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 "I have trodden
he winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them
in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. 4 For the day of vengeance is in
My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. 5 I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there
was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. 6 I have
trodden down the peoples in My anger, Made them drunk in My fury,And brought down their strength to the earth."
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD's wrath; But the
whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in
the land.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows
exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among
the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is
manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which
you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you
who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He
comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony
among you was believed.
Revelation 18:20-21 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on
her!" 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,"Thus with violence
the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. NKJV
Revelation 19:2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the
earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." NKJV
Revelation 19:11-21 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were
many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and
His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on
white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will
rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has
on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of
heaven,"Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of
captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and
slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make
war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false
prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those
who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were
killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
VIII. SEVEN: THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS: THE SECOND COMING (REV. 19), MILLENNIAL REIGN
(REV. 20), AND NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH (REV. 21).
A. Jesus will initiate the Millennial Reign and begin to restore all things under His leadership. For one thousand years,
He will reign on the earth to fulfill all the promises of the Word of God. He will disciple the nations and will establish the
Kingdom of God in every sphere of human life (political, social, agricultural, economic, spiritual, educational, etc.). In this
period of blessing initiated at Jesus’ second coming, Satan will be bound and Jesus will rule the earth with a rod of iron
(Revelation 20:1–6, 19:11–21; Isaiah 2:1–4, 9:6–9, 11:1–16, 51:1–8, 60–62, 65:17–25; Psalm 2:6–12, 110:1¬–7;
Deuteronomy 8, 28; Matthew 5:5, 6:10, 17:11, 19:28, 28:19; Acts 1:6, 3:21).
B. The result of Jesus’ rule will be a one thousand-year period of peace, righteousness, prosperity, and
unprecedented blessing for the whole earth as Jesus restores life to the conditions seen in the Garden of Eden. Jesus,
as the King of kings, will govern a worldwide Kingdom from Jerusalem. He will reign in partnership with resurrected saints
who rule with Him, establishing a biblically-based social order (Revelation 2:26–27, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4–6, 22:5;
Matthew 19:28, 25:23; Luke 22:29–30; 1 Corinthians 6:2–3; 2 Timothy 2:12).
You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke
them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff
from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that
struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:34–35)
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom
shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the
bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this.
The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure. (Daniel 2:44–45)
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end,
when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He
must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all
things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him
is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all
things under Him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:23–28)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid
hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him
into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the
thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they
sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness
to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their
foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not
live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the
first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall
reign with Him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1–6)
C. The work of Calvary and the ministry of the Holy Spirit prepared the earth for the Lord’s return. In the same way,
the earthly rule of Jesus with the full power of the Holy Spirit will prepare the earth for the coming of the Father, when
heaven and earth will be fully joined together. Before this takes place, God will release Satan for one final testing of the
nations at the end of the one thousand years. This conflict will end with the casting of Satan, the wicked, and Hell itself
into the lake of fire. Then all things will be made new, and God will dwell with men.