This is the second of eight Sundays in our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure called The Remarkable Revelation: 50 Days to Prepare for What’s Ahead. “Apocalypse” is another word for Revelation. One week is over; we have seven more to go. The theme for this adventure has been developed from Bob Fraley’s book Salt & Light.

Adventures like this are designed to produce accelerated, measurable and lasting spiritual growth. It’s accelerated because during these 50 days you should mature at a faster pace than normal in your walk with the Lord. It’s measurable because you are to keep a journal where you can see in your own hand writing how you are doing. I trust that you took seriously your daily journal assignments this last week, and will continue to do so. This adventure will be lasting, since 50 days are adequate to develop new and positive spiritual habits.

If you don’t yet have a journal, it’s not too late to get one. They are available after the service at _______________.

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever been blindsided? I don’t know of anyone who likes to be blindsided! Fights are bad enough, but to attack someone when they aren’t expecting it is the way a coward does things.

In a similar manner, it is very difficult for any of us to deal with deception, with someone whose word can’t be trusted. A child, friend or spouse who lies to you repeatedly does great damage to whatever closeness you would like to have.

Murder, of course, is an even greater offense. We hear so often in the news about killings that we get somewhat numbed as to the awfulness of what’s being reported. To take the life of another human being is a terrible act. It is condemned by both the state and the church.

In John chapter 8, Jesus describes the devil as both a liar and a murderer. He means this literally. Listen to what He says!

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth. When he lies he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

These are sobering words.                                                     

Many people in this enlightened age think it is weird or even silly to believe in the devil. However, Jesus recognized Satan as not only real, but a tough and terrible enemy.

I too believe there is a Satan. He’s not the red-faced one with horns, hoofs and a three-pronged pitchfork. The Satan that Scripture reveals as the Prince of the Power of the Air is for real. He’s the one who tried to deceive Jesus and sidetrack Him from walking the difficult road to Calvary.  In that he failed, but he succeeded in another incredibly important area of conflict, which I’ll talk about a little later.

In similar fashion, Satan tempts us to live contrary to God’s desires. I don’t believe Satan has a body like we do, so he’s not going to come up and put his arm around us. Scripture depicts him as a fallen angel, and also a spirit, like when he entered Judas Iscariot. The devil is not omnipresent like God, but he has many subordinates who carry out his evil commands. They’re spirits also, as in the Gospels when Jesus cast out demons. Though they didn’t have bodies, their definite presence was often sensed. And many of us have had those times when we too have sensed the very presence of evil nearby?

We can learn quite a bit from Scripture about Satan’s character. For example, he is highly intelligent … proud … rebellious … violent … revengeful … corrupting … and, when given the chance, dominating.

The skill I would like to focus on, however, is the one I brought up when I began this sermon. The devil is cleverly deceptive. He’s cunning. To repeat Jesus’ words, “Lying is his native language.” And because he is very good at it, this spiritual enemy can never be trusted.

In 2 Corinthians 11:14 the Apostle Paul writes, “For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Anyone would have to be highly skilled to pull that off! But the Bible says he does. In fact, there are many in the world today who actually worship the things of Satan as their god. They don’t know it, and in reality he is the exact opposite of God in every way.

To masquerade is to come in disguise, or assume the appearance of something you’re not. Satan is not God, and Satan is never, ever your friend, though he repeatedly pretends that he is.

His desire is to have millions—actually, I should say billions—to bow before him. You read about that this past week in Revelation 13 if you did your journal work. That passage was also the Scripture read earlier in our service. It’s the one where the devil gives his power over to the beast that emerges from the sea.

Following the general guidelines I gave you last Sunday about apocalyptic books, you will remember that this mysterious imagery of prophetic words roots back into the writings of Daniel. That’s a frame of reference we don’t want to forget. In Daniel chapter 7 we’re told that the four terrifying beasts Daniel saw were empires or kingdoms. And since the best source for interpreting Scripture is the Bible itself, I would assume this beast in Revelation 13 with all of the characteristics of those beasts in Daniel is also an empire or kingdom.