The King Tolerates His Rival

Science theorizes the existence of antimatter, which releases unimaginable energy when in contact with matter. The Bible tells about a future Antichrist, and he's no theory. He'll arise as a great world leader who seeks and gets the worship of mankind. This evil being will be a rival to the real Jesus.

His career will mimic that of Christ as he dies and is raised again. From Chicago, we welcome you to The Moody Church Hour, a weekly service of worship and teaching under the ministry of Dr. Erwin Lutzer. Today, we continue a 10-part look into the future we're calling When He Shall Come.

Later in our broadcast, we'll learn about what happens when he tolerates a rival. The Moody Choir now opens our time of worship. I want to meet my mother, I want to meet my mother. I'm going to live with God.

I want to meet my mother, I want to meet my mother. I'm going to live with God. Soon we'll be done with the troubles of the world, the troubles of the world, the troubles of the world. No more weeping and a-wailing, no more weeping and a-wailing, no more weeping and a-wailing, I'm going to live with God. No more weeping and a-wailing, no more weeping and a-wailing, no more weeping and a-wailing, I'm going to live with God. No more weeping and a-wailing, no more weeping.

Soon we'll be done with the troubles of the world, the troubles of the world, the troubles of the world. I want to meet my Jesus, I want to meet my Jesus. I'm going to live with God. I'm going to live with God. I'm going to live with God. I'm going to live with God.

Aren't you glad that soon we'll be done with the troubles of the world and we'll go to live with God? Thank you so much choir. As a matter of fact throughout this service we are going to be being blessed by spirituals.

We do that because they were forged at a time of suffering, a time when endurance was important, and people had to rekindle their hope in God. And especially as we talk about the future and I'm going to be speaking about Antichrist and the troubles that are going to come to this world, well in the midst of it we want you to see God. Take for example the song that is going to be sung by Jessica Usherwood a little later in the service entitled Precious Lord Take My Hand, happens to be one of my favorites. 1932 Thomas Dorsey is in St. Louis and learns by telegram that his wife died while giving birth to a child prematurely. He said that when he came into the church for the funeral and her coffin was there he could scarcely stand up, people had to hold him up. Out of the crucible of that experience he wrote, Precious Lord Take My Hand. Dorsey wrote these words, my business is to bring people to Christ. I write for all of God's people, all people are my people.

What I share with people is love. I try to lift their spirits and let them know that God still loves them, he's still saving them, and he can give them power. Would you bow with me please. Father we want to draw near to you because your word says that if we do you'll draw near to us. Lift our spirits and lift our hopes today and grant us great faith as we worship you. We ask today Father that whatever has happened in the past week will be put behind us.

May we concentrate fully upon you, your blessings, and your son we pray in his blessed name. Amen. Let me stand. I am tired. I am weak.

I am warm. Through the storm, through the night. Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord. Lead me home. Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired. I am weak.

I am warm. Through the storm, through the night. Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord. Lead me home. When my wake holds true. Precious Lord, lead them near. When my light is warm.

Close call. Hear my call, hear my call. Hold my hand, lest I fall. Sing my hand, precious Lord. Lead me on, take my hand. Take my hand, precious Lord. Lead me home.

Thank you so much. You can have a seat. I'm going to tell you about the coming of the judgment. I'm going to tell you about the coming of the judgment. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming.

There are at least many things. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming.

There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming. There's a better day a coming.

There's a better day a coming. When I think of life transforming lessons in this, many spring out to me from the text. I read something like this and I immediately see all kinds of things coming at me.

Let me give you three. Just a word in passing before we get to the last two and that is the whole business of discernment. The fact that the earth is going to be so ready to receive miracles that are false miracles. Today people see miracles and they have no idea how to identify a true miracle from a false one when they see it on television.

And sometimes we don't know I confess that but sometimes there are telltale signs particularly regarding what the evangelist says and what he believes. But we are raising a generation of people who simply lack all spiritual discernment. They don't know, for example, that if you go to a seance, if you consult a witch and talk to the dead, you're not talking to the dead. You're actually talking to demonic spirits who knew the dead, familiar spirits. They don't even know that. They just bungle along in life, oh this sounds interesting, this sounds good. So the world will be ready for a massive deception.

Two other things that I want you to take home. First of all, something about God's sovereignty, God's sovereignty. You say, well it looks like God kind of was on vacation when all this was happening. Ah, God isn't on vacation. He never is. Did you notice it says that the beast was able to rule for 42 months?

I mean who determines that time? If God determines the length of the beast's rule to be 42 months, all the forces of hell wrapped all together cannot make it 43. Because God is God. And even the devil is God's devil. I want to tell you, you know what it says in 2 Thessalonians 2? Read it on your own.

Just take my word for it for now and then read it on your own. It says that when Antichrist goes into the temple, that when Jesus comes, Jesus is going to slay him by the breath of his mouth. Jesus will just go, it's all over.

Because Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and God of all gods. There's no contest here. By the way, did you know that hell is just? Hell is just.

We'll talk about that to us. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way, but certainly for these, hell is just. And that's the vindication. Earlier in the book of Revelation, there are saints that pray and say, Oh Lord, how long until you're going to vindicate us? Because they were massacred, they were killed, and God is going to say, just a little longer. And hell is just.

The sovereignty of God, the breath of his mouth, there's no contest here. But I need to comment on the glory of the saints, and for this we have to go back to verse 8 and 9. And all who dwell upon the earth will worship it that is the beast, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life, of the Lamb that was slain. Of course, you're asking all kinds of questions about this verse, as well you might.

First of all, I need to emphasize, do you think that if you lived during this period of time, you would have the nerve to withstand the cultural and spiritual pressure to join Antichrist and his forces? Another way we indicate God's sovereignty is in verse 10. If anyone is to be taken captive to captivity goes, if anyone is to be slain with a sword, with a sword he must be slain. Hitler said that if you go into a rally with 100,000 people all shouting the same slogans, and you don't believe in the slogan, you'll do one of two things. Either you will convert, or at least you'll keep your mouth shut.

Because there will be a cultural stream that will be so powerful, nobody will stand against it. And even the saved in this day wouldn't stand against it. Unless God granted them the ability to stand against it.

But now for the verse. Everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life. You say, well, you mean there are some people born and already their name was written in the book of life? That's what the text is saying. People have wanted to say something else. They sometimes there are translations that say the lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. That also shows us God's sovereignty.

But the best translation of the text is the one that I've just read. If you are a believer today, your name was in the book of life as long as God has existed. Any amens out there?

Am I all alone out here? Because God never learns anything. He never makes some decisions that he doesn't know he's going to change. Your name was known to God as long as God existed. In fact, Paul says that he said the grace of God that was given to you from all eternity. You say, well, yeah, but I know what you're thinking.

I can see your minds working like the innards of a clock. You're saying, but you know, how do you how do you know that your name is in the book? Isn't that the question that you should be asking? How do you know your name is in the book?

And some of you, you have never trusted Christ as Savior. And the question is, you know, how do I know whether or not my name is in the book? Can't you just hear it already?

Somebody saying that. Here's the good news. The good news is you can find out whether or not it's in the book. Shouldn't you be encouraged because of that? You may criticize God's sovereignty and all. But my, if you can find out whether or not your name is in the book, you should have no argument with God about this text.

I don't think you should. Here's the way you find out whether or not your name is in the book. What you do is you come to Jesus Christ in humility, admitting your sinfulness and receive him as your savior. And you believe on him. And when you do, that shows that your name is in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of the world.

That's not bad, is it? I came to assurance of faith at the age of 14. Some of you perhaps have come to assurance of faith at different times and some of you have no assurance of faith.

And the reason that you have no assurance is because you're not saved. So you don't know whether your name is in the book or not. I've flown a bit on airplanes and sometimes I have flown standby. Have you ever had that experience? You're flying standby. And, you know, you don't know whether or not you're going to get on. And, you know, you're looking at that board now that they have, you know, the waiting list and your number four. And you see all these people going on the plane. You think, oh, you know, I hope that I'm going to be on. I pray that I'm going to be on, but I don't know whether or not my name is going to be called.

And then at the end, they may say either yes or no. But you're not enjoying the time in the departure lounge. And then most of the time I fly with a ticket and I look on it and I say, I'm in 10B. I know that there's a seat that's reserved for me. I have the ticket in my pocket.

I can pull a book out of my briefcase and I can read it and I can be totally relaxed. Today I want you to know that you have a confirmed ticket with a seat number that is for you in glory. Don't resist the Holy Spirit. If God has talked to you and you don't know whether or not your name is in the book, find out. Come to Jesus, admit your sinfulness, admit your need and say, Jesus, I'm a sinner. You're a savior. I'm going to believe in this Jesus, not the false one that is going to come to pass, who is going to be destroyed by the breath of the mouth of the real Jesus. I don't want to believe in him.

I want to believe in a savior that actually saves. And there's only one like that out there. And you know who he is, don't you? That's Jesus. You may be in the balcony. You may be listening by way of radio or other forums.

You may be. You joined us today on the Internet. Whatever means by which you are listening to this, I appeal to your conscience and I appeal to God's grace. Come to Christ, receive him, give up your stubbornness. And when you do that, he'll receive you. That's guaranteed. He'll receive you and you'll say, you know what? I have a confirmed ticket.

I now know that my name has been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life. Is there any question that is as important as that one? I don't think so. I don't think so.

That's pretty well it. More important than all the other issues that we face, eternity is long. Time is short. Take the time to say, Jesus, today I trust you and believe you. Join me as we pray.

Jesus, your name is power. On today's Moody Church Hour, Dr. Erwin Lutzer spoke about When He Tolerates a Rival, the fourth in a ten-part series on When He Shall Come. Next time, don't miss What Happens When He Judges Those Left on Earth.

This entire series is now a book by Dr. Lutzer entitled The King is Coming. A copy is waiting for you with our thanks for your gift of any amount to The Moody Church Hour. Just call us at 1-800-215-5001.

When you call, mention the book The King is Coming. Call 1-800-215-5001 or write to us at The Moody Church, 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614. Online, go to moodyoffer.com. That's moodyoffer.com. Join us next week for another Moody Church Hour with Dr. Erwin Lutzer and the Congregation of Historic Moody Church in Chicago. This broadcast is a ministry of The Moody Church.