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WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:06.059 All<00:00:02.759><c> right,</c><00:00:02.899><c> thanks</c><00:00:03.200><c> very</c><00:00:03.419><c> much,</c><00:00:03.779><c> Brother</c><00:00:04.139><c> Jim,</c><00:00:04.440><c> and</c><00:00:04.639><c> good</c><00:00:04.799><c> morning</c><00:00:04.980><c> to</c><00:00:05.219><c> everybody.</c> 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:10.720 This<00:00:08.699><c> series</c><00:00:09.480><c> that</c><00:00:09.619><c> we're</c><00:00:09.779><c> going</c><00:00:09.939><c> to</c><00:00:10.039><c> be</c><00:00:10.179><c> going</c><00:00:10.320><c> through</c><00:00:10.500><c> this</c> 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:14.359 week<00:00:10.880><c> is</c><00:00:11.080><c> actually</c><00:00:11.359><c> based</c><00:00:11.720><c> on</c><00:00:12.099><c> a</c><00:00:13.720><c> Bible</c><00:00:14.039><c> class</c> 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:17.300 series<00:00:14.740><c> that</c><00:00:14.919><c> I</c><00:00:15.140><c> did</c><00:00:15.359><c> probably</c><00:00:15.740><c> around</c><00:00:16.079><c> 10</c><00:00:16.280><c> years</c><00:00:16.559><c> ago</c><00:00:16.839><c> at</c><00:00:17.079><c> our</c> 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:20.140 Home<00:00:17.500><c> Ecclesia</c><00:00:17.920><c> in</c><00:00:18.940><c> Mississauga.</c> 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.800 It<00:00:20.320><c> was</c><00:00:20.500><c> actually</c><00:00:20.920><c> six</c><00:00:21.300><c> classes,</c><00:00:21.760><c> and</c><00:00:22.120><c> I've</c><00:00:22.579><c> attempted</c><00:00:22.859><c> to</c><00:00:23.260><c> condense</c><00:00:23.600><c> it</c> 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:25.480 down<00:00:23.960><c> into</c><00:00:24.219><c> five.</c> 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:31.120 I<00:00:27.239><c> was</c><00:00:27.800><c> asked</c><00:00:28.280><c> actually</c><00:00:28.739><c> at</c><00:00:28.940><c> the</c><00:00:29.100><c> time</c><00:00:29.320><c> to</c><00:00:29.539><c> take</c><00:00:29.780><c> that</c><00:00:30.100><c> series.</c> 00:00:31.179 --> 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it</c><00:00:43.200><c> interesting</c><00:00:43.659><c> and</c><00:00:43.899><c> helpful.</c> 00:00:44.380 --> 00:00:46.640 We're<00:00:44.500><c> obviously</c><00:00:44.820><c> going</c><00:00:45.039><c> to</c><00:00:45.259><c> try</c><00:00:45.399><c> and</c><00:00:45.700><c> connect</c><00:00:46.000><c> historical</c> 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:48.899 events<00:00:47.060><c> with,</c><00:00:47.780><c> I'd</c><00:00:48.700><c> say,</c> 00:00:48.979 --> 00:00:52.979 a<00:00:49.159><c> handful</c><00:00:49.640><c> of</c><00:00:50.659><c> Bible</c><00:00:51.039><c> prophecies</c><00:00:51.759><c> that</c><00:00:51.939><c> you're</c><00:00:52.219><c> all</c><00:00:52.659><c> very</c> 00:00:52.979 --> 00:00:53.899 well<00:00:53.200><c> familiar</c><00:00:53.479><c> with.</c> 00:00:53.899 --> 00:00:57.060 We're<00:00:54.439><c> not</c><00:00:54.679><c> going</c><00:00:54.899><c> to</c><00:00:55.100><c> do</c><00:00:55.399><c> sort</c><00:00:55.640><c> of</c><00:00:55.799><c> a</c><00:00:55.939><c> verse</c><00:00:56.140><c> by</c><00:00:56.380><c> verse,</c><00:00:56.780><c> word</c> 00:00:57.060 --> 00:00:58.439 by<00:00:57.359><c> word</c><00:00:57.619><c> type</c><00:00:57.899><c> analysis.</c> 00:00:58.460 --> 00:01:04.719 It's<00:00:58.799><c> going</c><00:00:58.920><c> to</c><00:00:59.119><c> be</c><00:00:59.899><c> very</c><00:01:00.479><c> much</c><00:01:01.119><c> a</c><00:01:01.399><c> high</c><00:01:01.619><c> level</c><00:01:01.880><c> thing.</c><00:01:03.140><c> If</c><00:01:03.359><c> you're</c><00:01:03.600><c> anything</c><00:01:03.880><c> like</c><00:01:04.140><c> my</c><00:01:04.420><c> wife,</c> 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:07.260 and<00:01:04.859><c> you're</c><00:01:05.060><c> not</c><00:01:05.200><c> a</c><00:01:05.280><c> big</c><00:01:05.519><c> history</c><00:01:05.879><c> fan,</c><00:01:06.159><c> I</c><00:01:06.400><c> apologize</c><00:01:06.920><c> at</c><00:01:07.120><c> the</c> 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:10.519 outset.<00:01:08.659><c> There</c><00:01:09.019><c> will</c><00:01:09.280><c> be</c><00:01:09.659><c> a</c><00:01:09.799><c> fair</c><00:01:09.900><c> bit</c><00:01:10.079><c> of</c><00:01:10.260><c> history,</c> 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:14.900 obviously,<00:01:10.939><c> as</c><00:01:11.120><c> the</c><00:01:11.280><c> title</c><00:01:11.439><c> suggests.</c><00:01:13.819><c> Hopefully</c><00:01:14.159><c> you</c><00:01:14.359><c> can</c> 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:16.780 bear<00:01:15.159><c> with</c><00:01:15.400><c> that.</c><00:01:15.739><c> If</c><00:01:16.200><c> you</c><00:01:16.480><c> can't,</c> 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:21.120 then<00:01:17.019><c> feel</c><00:01:17.219><c> free</c><00:01:17.480><c> to</c><00:01:17.879><c> go</c><00:01:18.019><c> and</c><00:01:18.340><c> help</c><00:01:18.540><c> out</c><00:01:18.700><c> with</c><00:01:18.859><c> the</c><00:01:19.019><c> coffee</c><00:01:19.780><c> preparation.</c> 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:26.599 You're<00:01:24.920><c> going</c><00:01:25.000><c> to</c><00:01:25.099><c> see</c><00:01:25.239><c> that</c><00:01:25.439><c> we're</c><00:01:25.579><c> going</c><00:01:25.640><c> to</c><00:01:25.739><c> be</c><00:01:25.959><c> relying</c><00:01:26.180><c> on</c> 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:28.079 some<00:01:26.980><c> primary</c><00:01:27.340><c> and</c><00:01:27.719><c> secondary</c> 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.299 historical<00:01:28.700><c> sources.</c><00:01:29.140><c> Some</c><00:01:29.319><c> of</c><00:01:29.459><c> the</c><00:01:29.540><c> names</c><00:01:29.680><c> you</c><00:01:29.840><c> might</c><00:01:30.000><c> recognize</c><00:01:30.700><c> from,</c> 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:32.140 for<00:01:31.900><c> example,</c> 00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:34.840 some<00:01:32.379><c> of</c><00:01:32.459><c> the</c><00:01:32.599><c> writings</c><00:01:32.780><c> of</c><00:01:33.000><c> Brother</c><00:01:33.159><c> Thomas,</c><00:01:33.819><c> and</c><00:01:33.980><c> other</c><00:01:34.180><c> names</c><00:01:34.500><c> will</c><00:01:34.719><c> be</c> 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:36.840 more<00:01:35.099><c> modern</c><00:01:36.079><c> historians</c> 00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:42.200 and<00:01:37.200><c> academics.</c><00:01:39.980><c> As</c><00:01:40.379><c> we</c><00:01:41.040><c> do</c><00:01:41.219><c> this,</c><00:01:41.439><c> I</c><00:01:41.519><c> hope</c><00:01:41.700><c> that</c><00:01:41.819><c> we'll</c><00:01:42.000><c> have</c> 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.439 a<00:01:42.359><c> slightly</c><00:01:42.659><c> more</c><00:01:42.959><c> enhanced</c><00:01:43.859><c> understanding</c><00:01:44.500><c> of</c> 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:49.799 Obviously,<00:01:47.560><c> as</c><00:01:47.640><c> we</c><00:01:47.840><c> look</c><00:01:48.019><c> at</c><00:01:48.140><c> the</c><00:01:48.299><c> history</c><00:01:48.519><c> of</c><00:01:49.299><c> Christianity,</c> 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.180 I<00:01:50.019><c> sort</c><00:01:50.219><c> of</c><00:01:50.359><c> put</c><00:01:50.459><c> that</c><00:01:50.719><c> in</c><00:01:50.900><c> quotes,</c> 00:01:51.299 --> 00:01:55.159 that<00:01:51.799><c> term</c><00:01:52.120><c> Christianity,</c><00:01:53.519><c> because</c><00:01:53.700><c> we're</c><00:01:53.859><c> going</c><00:01:54.040><c> to</c><00:01:54.180><c> see</c><00:01:54.280><c> it's</c><00:01:54.459><c> not</c><00:01:54.659><c> what</c><00:01:54.819><c> we</c> 00:01:55.159 --> 00:01:56.799 understand<00:01:55.560><c> to</c><00:01:55.719><c> be</c><00:01:55.859><c> the</c><00:01:56.060><c> truth.</c> 00:01:57.519 --> 00:02:00.859 But<00:01:57.959><c> I</c><00:01:58.400><c> think</c><00:01:58.659><c> what</c><00:01:58.879><c> we're</c><00:01:59.060><c> going</c><00:01:59.180><c> to</c><00:01:59.420><c> find</c><00:01:59.620><c> is</c><00:02:00.180><c> obviously</c><00:02:00.560><c> a</c> 00:02:00.859 --> 00:02:04.920 thread<00:02:01.200><c> running</c><00:02:01.900><c> through</c><00:02:02.260><c> that</c><00:02:02.599><c> history</c><00:02:03.140><c> that</c><00:02:04.579><c> takes</c> 00:02:04.920 --> 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and<00:02:42.520><c> age,</c><00:02:42.680><c> and</c><00:02:42.780><c> we're</c><00:02:42.919><c> not</c><00:02:43.560><c> subject</c><00:02:44.000><c> to</c><00:02:44.240><c> that</c><00:02:44.439><c> kind</c><00:02:44.719><c> of</c><00:02:45.000><c> persecution</c><00:02:45.539><c> or</c><00:02:46.000><c> temptation,</c><00:02:47.080><c> and</c> 00:02:48.020 --> 00:02:48.699 hopefully<00:02:48.340><c> that'll</c> 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:53.240 make<00:02:48.840><c> us</c><00:02:49.020><c> more</c><00:02:49.300><c> thankful.</c><00:02:51.879><c> And</c><00:02:51.879><c> ideally</c><00:02:52.419><c> also,</c><00:02:52.819><c> it'll</c><00:02:53.080><c> help</c> 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:56.020 us<00:02:54.099><c> to</c><00:02:54.539><c> better</c><00:02:54.740><c> appreciate</c><00:02:55.219><c> the</c><00:02:55.479><c> fact</c><00:02:55.620><c> that</c><00:02:55.780><c> God</c> 00:02:56.020 --> 00:03:00.099 is<00:02:56.340><c> using</c><00:02:56.639><c> trials</c><00:02:57.360><c> and</c><00:02:58.280><c> adversity</c><00:02:58.780><c> to</c><00:02:59.159><c> try</c><00:02:59.340><c> and</c><00:02:59.520><c> perfect</c><00:02:59.819><c> His</c> 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:02.240 children.<00:03:00.419><c> We're</c><00:03:00.560><c> going</c><00:03:00.740><c> to</c><00:03:00.939><c> look</c><00:03:01.099><c> back</c><00:03:01.379><c> at</c><00:03:01.979><c> people</c> 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.300 that<00:03:02.439><c> went</c><00:03:02.620><c> through</c><00:03:02.960><c> very</c><00:03:03.419><c> extreme</c><00:03:03.860><c> and</c><00:03:04.139><c> severe</c><00:03:04.419><c> trials</c><00:03:04.979><c> because</c><00:03:06.120><c> of</c> 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:08.919 their<00:03:06.539><c> faith.</c><00:03:07.500><c> So</c><00:03:07.680><c> let's</c><00:03:07.879><c> get</c><00:03:08.259><c> started</c><00:03:08.520><c> then.</c> 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:12.479 Again,<00:03:09.319><c> just</c><00:03:09.599><c> looking</c><00:03:09.840><c> at</c><00:03:10.120><c> highlights,</c><00:03:10.699><c> not</c><00:03:11.560><c> going</c><00:03:12.000><c> too</c><00:03:12.280><c> deep</c> 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:16.419 into<00:03:12.740><c> details.</c><00:03:13.259><c> This</c><00:03:13.460><c> is</c><00:03:13.780><c> sort</c><00:03:13.919><c> of</c><00:03:15.259><c> the</c><00:03:15.879><c> plan</c><00:03:16.139><c> of</c> 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:18.860 attack<00:03:16.659><c> for</c><00:03:16.900><c> this</c><00:03:17.159><c> morning.</c><00:03:18.039><c> Basically,</c><00:03:18.379><c> we're</c><00:03:18.539><c> going</c><00:03:18.639><c> to</c> 00:03:18.860 --> 00:03:24.180 cover<00:03:19.460><c> roughly</c><00:03:20.439><c> four</c><00:03:20.819><c> centuries,</c><00:03:22.319><c> and</c><00:03:22.780><c> the</c><00:03:23.939><c> theme,</c> 00:03:24.180 --> 00:03:28.240 I<00:03:24.560><c> think,</c><00:03:24.780><c> that</c><00:03:24.780><c> we'll</c><00:03:24.979><c> run</c><00:03:25.300><c> through</c><00:03:25.539><c> this</c><00:03:25.919><c> is</c><00:03:27.000><c> the</c><00:03:27.800><c> emergence</c> 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:31.300 of<00:03:28.539><c> false</c><00:03:28.780><c> teaching</c><00:03:29.259><c> and,</c><00:03:30.379><c> of</c><00:03:30.520><c> course,</c> 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:37.860 the<00:03:33.500><c> persecution</c><00:03:34.020><c> that</c><00:03:34.539><c> the</c><00:03:34.759><c> believers</c><00:03:35.039><c> in</c><00:03:35.319><c> these</c><00:03:35.560><c> first</c><00:03:35.840><c> four</c><00:03:36.120><c> centuries</c><00:03:36.500><c> were</c><00:03:36.759><c> subject</c><00:03:37.099><c> to.</c> 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.080 I<00:03:42.280><c> want</c><00:03:42.439><c> to</c><00:03:42.639><c> start.</c><00:03:42.879><c> We're</c><00:03:43.020><c> not</c><00:03:43.199><c> going</c><00:03:43.360><c> to</c><00:03:43.560><c> start</c><00:03:43.699><c> looking</c><00:03:43.939><c> at</c> 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:45.719 all<00:03:44.199><c> the</c><00:03:44.360><c> various</c><00:03:44.539><c> verses</c><00:03:44.879><c> in</c><00:03:45.080><c> the</c><00:03:45.159><c> New</c><00:03:45.319><c> Testament</c> 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:50.860 that<00:03:46.020><c> predict</c><00:03:46.259><c> or</c><00:03:46.539><c> forecast</c><00:03:47.020><c> the</c><00:03:47.280><c> coming</c><00:03:47.460><c> of</c><00:03:47.719><c> persecution</c><00:03:48.400><c> and</c><00:03:49.479><c> false</c><00:03:49.759><c> teaching.</c><00:03:50.379><c> We're</c><00:03:50.659><c> going</c><00:03:50.740><c> to</c> 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:51.580 zoom<00:03:51.039><c> in</c><00:03:51.219><c> on</c><00:03:51.360><c> one</c> 00:03:51.580 --> 00:03:54.699 example,<00:03:52.020><c> and</c><00:03:52.099><c> this</c><00:03:52.199><c> is</c><00:03:52.360><c> the</c><00:03:52.520><c> example</c><00:03:52.840><c> in</c><00:03:53.099><c> 2</c><00:03:53.360><c> Thessalonians</c> 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:58.340 chapter<00:03:55.319><c> 2,</c><00:03:56.159><c> and</c><00:03:56.199><c> I'll</c><00:03:56.759><c> ask</c><00:03:56.939><c> that</c><00:03:57.080><c> you</c><00:03:57.199><c> just</c><00:03:57.860><c> open</c><00:03:58.099><c> your</c> 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:02.219 Bibles<00:03:58.580><c> there</c><00:03:58.860><c> if</c><00:03:58.939><c> you</c><00:03:59.080><c> don't</c><00:03:59.259><c> mind.</c><00:04:00.360><c> We're</c><00:04:00.520><c> just</c><00:04:00.680><c> going</c><00:04:00.780><c> to</c><00:04:00.819><c> look</c><00:04:01.020><c> at</c><00:04:01.439><c> a</c> 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:05.879 handful<00:04:02.560><c> of</c><00:04:02.759><c> verses</c><00:04:02.979><c> here.</c><00:04:05.319><c> It's</c><00:04:05.599><c> here</c> 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.300 where<00:04:06.080><c> Paul</c><00:04:06.360><c> explains</c><00:04:06.840><c> that</c><00:04:06.979><c> there's</c><00:04:07.180><c> going</c><00:04:07.340><c> to</c><00:04:07.439><c> be</c><00:04:07.599><c> a</c><00:04:07.740><c> falling</c><00:04:07.960><c> away</c> 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:10.120 or<00:04:08.500><c> an</c><00:04:08.699><c> apostasy</c><00:04:09.360><c> that</c><00:04:09.479><c> was</c><00:04:09.699><c> going</c><00:04:09.879><c> to</c> 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:13.500 occur,<00:04:10.439><c> and</c><00:04:10.599><c> the</c><00:04:10.780><c> man</c><00:04:10.919><c> of</c><00:04:11.259><c> sin</c><00:04:11.379><c> or</c><00:04:11.539><c> a</c><00:04:11.659><c> man</c><00:04:11.759><c> of</c><00:04:12.060><c> lawlessness</c><00:04:12.680><c> is</c> 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:17.560 going<00:04:13.680><c> to</c><00:04:13.840><c> be</c><00:04:14.020><c> revealed.</c><00:04:15.840><c> And</c><00:04:15.900><c> according</c><00:04:16.259><c> to</c><00:04:17.139><c> Paul,</c> 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:20.279 the<00:04:17.699><c> man</c><00:04:17.939><c> of</c><00:04:18.220><c> sin</c><00:04:18.319><c> is</c><00:04:18.519><c> going</c><00:04:18.660><c> to</c><00:04:19.060><c> continue</c><00:04:19.240><c> right</c><00:04:19.459><c> up</c><00:04:19.639><c> until</c><00:04:19.899><c> the</c><00:04:19.959><c> time</c><00:04:20.160><c> of</c> 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:21.519 the<00:04:20.379><c> Lord</c><00:04:20.560><c> Jesus'</c><00:04:21.079><c> return,</c> 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:26.199 and<00:04:22.160><c> then</c><00:04:22.279><c> he's</c><00:04:22.560><c> going</c><00:04:22.699><c> to</c><00:04:22.879><c> be</c><00:04:23.040><c> destroyed</c><00:04:23.720><c> by</c><00:04:24.319><c> Christ</c><00:04:24.699><c> at</c><00:04:24.920><c> Christ's</c><00:04:25.439><c> return.</c><00:04:25.980><c> It</c> 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:27.629 says<00:04:26.319><c> that</c><00:04:26.560><c> in</c><00:04:26.699><c> verse</c><00:04:26.899><c> 8.</c> 00:04:28.579 --> 00:04:33.259 So<00:04:28.759><c> Paul</c><00:04:28.920><c> notes</c><00:04:29.639><c> that</c><00:04:30.579><c> something</c><00:04:30.939><c> was</c><00:04:31.339><c> currently</c><00:04:31.860><c> restraining</c><00:04:32.620><c> or</c><00:04:32.879><c> holding</c> 00:04:33.259 --> 00:04:35.540 back<00:04:34.199><c> the</c><00:04:35.019><c> development</c> 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:38.139 of<00:04:35.800><c> this</c><00:04:36.100><c> man</c><00:04:36.319><c> of</c><00:04:36.620><c> sin,</c><00:04:36.899><c> whatever</c><00:04:37.100><c> the</c><00:04:37.319><c> man</c><00:04:37.459><c> of</c><00:04:37.720><c> sin</c><00:04:37.839><c> is,</c><00:04:38.040><c> and</c> 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.459 we'll<00:04:38.300><c> look</c><00:04:38.519><c> at</c><00:04:38.620><c> that</c><00:04:39.720><c> throughout</c><00:04:40.220><c> our</c><00:04:40.519><c> classes.</c> 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:45.800 Something<00:04:42.300><c> was</c><00:04:42.579><c> holding</c><00:04:42.899><c> back</c><00:04:43.220><c> the</c><00:04:43.399><c> emergence</c><00:04:43.740><c> of</c><00:04:43.939><c> the</c><00:04:44.060><c> man</c><00:04:44.199><c> of</c><00:04:44.420><c> sin.</c><00:04:44.720><c> It</c><00:04:44.720><c> says</c><00:04:44.879><c> that</c><00:04:45.139><c> in</c><00:04:45.259><c> verses</c><00:04:45.500><c> 6</c> 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:46.540 and<00:04:46.000><c> 7,</c> 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:50.540 and<00:04:47.240><c> of</c><00:04:47.699><c> course</c><00:04:47.899><c> the</c><00:04:48.420><c> restraining</c><00:04:48.939><c> power,</c><00:04:49.939><c> the</c><00:04:50.079><c> thing</c><00:04:50.220><c> that's</c> 00:04:50.540 --> 00:04:52.220 holding<00:04:50.800><c> back</c><00:04:51.279><c> the</c><00:04:51.480><c> development</c><00:04:51.839><c> of</c><00:04:51.980><c> the</c><00:04:52.079><c> man</c> 00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:55.500 of<00:04:52.399><c> sin,</c><00:04:52.579><c> is</c><00:04:52.720><c> eventually</c><00:04:53.079><c> going</c><00:04:53.319><c> to</c><00:04:53.459><c> be</c><00:04:53.620><c> taken</c><00:04:53.800><c> out</c><00:04:53.959><c> of</c><00:04:54.060><c> the</c><00:04:54.180><c> way</c><00:04:54.959><c> so</c> 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.300 that<00:04:55.779><c> this</c><00:04:56.639><c> system,</c><00:04:58.279><c> this</c><00:04:58.639><c> man</c><00:04:58.860><c> of</c><00:04:59.160><c> sin,</c> 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:05.079 will<00:04:59.500><c> be</c><00:04:59.759><c> revealed.</c><00:05:02.220><c> Well,</c><00:05:02.459><c> did</c><00:05:02.620><c> you</c><00:05:02.779><c> notice</c><00:05:03.139><c> in</c><00:05:03.379><c> verse</c><00:05:03.720><c> 5,</c><00:05:04.079><c> Paul</c><00:05:04.339><c> said</c><00:05:04.639><c> that</c><00:05:04.920><c> he</c> 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:06.639 had<00:05:05.379><c> already</c><00:05:05.759><c> explained</c><00:05:06.319><c> the</c> 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:13.699 things<00:05:07.399><c> previously</c><00:05:08.319><c> to</c><00:05:08.639><c> the</c><00:05:08.839><c> Thessalonians?</c><00:05:11.339><c> Because</c><00:05:11.879><c> of</c><00:05:12.180><c> that</c><00:05:12.480><c> prior</c><00:05:12.860><c> explanation,</c><00:05:13.579><c> I</c> 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:14.540 think<00:05:13.860><c> we</c><00:05:14.019><c> can</c><00:05:14.180><c> assume</c> 00:05:14.540 --> 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2</c><00:05:28.139><c>,000</c><00:05:28.420><c> years</c><00:05:28.660><c> later</c><00:05:28.959><c> roughly,</c><00:05:29.759><c> and</c><00:05:29.959><c> we're</c><00:05:30.160><c> left</c><00:05:30.379><c> wondering</c><00:05:30.720><c> what</c><00:05:30.980><c> it</c> 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.360 was.<00:05:31.459><c> What</c><00:05:31.680><c> was</c><00:05:31.980><c> it</c><00:05:32.160><c> that</c><00:05:32.699><c> held</c><00:05:33.019><c> back</c> 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.240 the<00:05:33.600><c> development</c><00:05:33.879><c> of</c><00:05:34.019><c> the</c><00:05:34.160><c> man</c><00:05:34.279><c> of</c><00:05:34.540><c> sin?</c><00:05:35.319><c> So</c><00:05:35.600><c> this</c><00:05:35.779><c> is</c><00:05:35.959><c> sort</c><00:05:36.079><c> of</c> 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:38.480 the<00:05:36.720><c> puzzle</c><00:05:37.120><c> we're</c><00:05:37.399><c> presented</c><00:05:37.779><c> with</c><00:05:38.019><c> this</c><00:05:38.279><c> morning.</c> 00:05:38.480 --> 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shall</c><00:05:51.720><c> not</c><00:05:52.100><c> come,</c><00:05:52.439><c> except</c><00:05:52.680><c> there</c><00:05:52.899><c> come</c><00:05:53.040><c> a</c><00:05:53.300><c> falling</c><00:05:53.500><c> away</c> 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:55.800 first,<00:05:54.660><c> and</c><00:05:54.879><c> the</c><00:05:55.040><c> man</c><00:05:55.199><c> of</c><00:05:55.420><c> sin</c><00:05:55.540><c> be</c> 00:05:55.800 --> 00:06:01.300 revealed,<00:05:56.959><c> the</c><00:05:57.259><c> son</c><00:05:57.620><c> of</c><00:05:57.980><c> perdition,</c><00:05:58.920><c> who</c><00:05:59.279><c> opposes</c><00:05:59.839><c> and</c><00:06:00.240><c> exalts</c><00:06:00.560><c> himself</c><00:06:01.000><c> above</c> 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:02.759 all<00:06:01.560><c> that</c><00:06:01.699><c> is</c><00:06:01.899><c> called</c><00:06:02.079><c> God</c><00:06:02.500><c> or</c> 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:07.639 that<00:06:03.139><c> is</c><00:06:03.379><c> worshiped</c><00:06:03.920><c> so</c><00:06:04.000><c> that</c><00:06:04.259><c> he</c><00:06:04.519><c> is</c><00:06:04.740><c> God</c><00:06:05.040><c> sits</c><00:06:05.379><c> in</c><00:06:05.560><c> the</c><00:06:05.759><c> temple</c><00:06:05.959><c> of</c><00:06:06.180><c> God</c><00:06:06.439><c> showing</c><00:06:06.819><c> that</c><00:06:07.439><c> he</c> 00:06:07.639 --> 00:06:08.939 is<00:06:07.939><c> God.</c> 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:13.699 So<00:06:11.300><c> Paul</c><00:06:11.579><c> of</c><00:06:11.720><c> course</c><00:06:11.939><c> says</c><00:06:12.199><c> there's</c><00:06:12.600><c> going</c><00:06:12.720><c> to</c><00:06:12.819><c> be</c><00:06:12.860><c> this</c><00:06:13.180><c> falling</c><00:06:13.420><c> away,</c> 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:15.060 the<00:06:13.899><c> man</c><00:06:14.060><c> of</c><00:06:14.339><c> sin</c><00:06:14.439><c> is</c><00:06:14.600><c> going</c><00:06:14.740><c> to</c><00:06:14.879><c> be</c> 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:17.660 revealed,<00:06:15.939><c> and</c><00:06:16.240><c> then</c><00:06:16.420><c> at</c><00:06:16.579><c> the</c><00:06:16.579><c> end</c><00:06:16.660><c> of</c><00:06:16.860><c> the</c><00:06:16.860><c> verse</c><00:06:17.040><c> he</c><00:06:17.339><c> refers</c> 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:20.199 to<00:06:17.839><c> the</c><00:06:17.959><c> man</c><00:06:18.079><c> of</c><00:06:18.300><c> sin</c><00:06:18.439><c> as</c><00:06:18.860><c> the</c><00:06:19.139><c> son</c><00:06:19.399><c> of</c><00:06:19.819><c> perdition.</c> 00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:23.879 Of<00:06:20.459><c> course,</c><00:06:20.639><c> we've</c><00:06:20.920><c> heard</c><00:06:21.079><c> that</c><00:06:21.540><c> phrase</c><00:06:21.839><c> before,</c><00:06:22.759><c> and</c><00:06:22.980><c> we</c><00:06:23.220><c> have</c><00:06:23.480><c> the</c> 00:06:23.879 --> 00:06:27.279 passage<00:06:24.220><c> in</c><00:06:24.420><c> which</c><00:06:24.819><c> it</c><00:06:25.160><c> is</c><00:06:25.420><c> used</c><00:06:25.639><c> shown</c><00:06:26.100><c> at</c><00:06:27.019><c> the</c> 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.339 bottom<00:06:27.439><c> of</c><00:06:27.620><c> this</c><00:06:28.060><c> slide.</c><00:06:28.579><c> It</c><00:06:28.579><c> is</c><00:06:29.439><c> from</c><00:06:29.680><c> John</c><00:06:30.019><c> 17.</c><00:06:30.720><c> It's</c><00:06:30.879><c> Jesus</c> 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:34.379 referring<00:06:31.959><c> to</c><00:06:32.339><c> Judas</c><00:06:32.600><c> as</c><00:06:33.139><c> the</c><00:06:33.399><c> son</c><00:06:33.779><c> of</c><00:06:34.100><c> perdition</c> 00:06:34.379 --> 00:06:40.860 or<00:06:34.540><c> the</c><00:06:34.779><c> son</c><00:06:34.899><c> of</c><00:06:35.519><c> destruction,</c><00:06:36.180><c> which</c><00:06:36.399><c> of</c><00:06:36.600><c> course</c><00:06:36.800><c> is</c><00:06:36.959><c> what</c><00:06:37.160><c> that</c><00:06:37.439><c> word</c><00:06:37.720><c> perdition</c><00:06:39.079><c> means.</c><00:06:40.000><c> And</c><00:06:40.160><c> so</c> 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:42.259 by<00:06:41.300><c> looking</c><00:06:41.639><c> at</c> 00:06:42.259 --> 00:06:46.000 Judas<00:06:42.620><c> and</c><00:06:42.800><c> the</c><00:06:42.939><c> kind</c><00:06:43.060><c> of</c><00:06:43.240><c> person</c><00:06:43.439><c> he</c><00:06:43.779><c> was,</c><00:06:45.180><c> hopefully</c><00:06:45.480><c> that'll</c><00:06:45.860><c> give</c> 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.279 us<00:06:46.180><c> some</c><00:06:46.399><c> insight</c><00:06:46.800><c> into</c><00:06:47.300><c> what</c><00:06:47.660><c> kind</c><00:06:47.959><c> of</c> 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:51.699 person<00:06:48.600><c> this</c><00:06:49.019><c> man</c><00:06:49.240><c> of</c><00:06:49.579><c> sin</c><00:06:49.720><c> is</c><00:06:49.980><c> going</c><00:06:50.160><c> to</c><00:06:50.379><c> be.</c><00:06:51.019><c> What</c><00:06:51.199><c> are</c><00:06:51.379><c> the</c> 00:06:51.699 --> 00:06:55.279 characteristics<00:06:52.379><c> or</c><00:06:52.600><c> the</c><00:06:52.939><c> trait</c><00:06:53.319><c> of</c><00:06:54.439><c> the</c><00:06:54.720><c> son</c><00:06:54.959><c> of</c> 00:06:55.279 --> 00:07:00.040 perdition,<00:06:56.180><c> and</c><00:06:56.360><c> therefore</c><00:06:57.000><c> what</c><00:06:58.259><c> can</c><00:06:58.459><c> we</c><00:06:58.660><c> understand</c><00:06:59.079><c> or</c><00:06:59.319><c> expect</c><00:06:59.759><c> to</c> 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.240 see<00:07:00.220><c> in</c><00:07:00.379><c> the</c><00:07:00.519><c> man</c><00:07:00.639><c> of</c><00:07:00.860><c> sin?</c><00:07:01.060><c> So</c><00:07:01.399><c> Judas,</c> 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:06.100 I<00:07:02.959><c> think</c><00:07:03.139><c> we</c><00:07:03.279><c> can</c><00:07:03.439><c> all</c><00:07:03.600><c> agree,</c><00:07:03.939><c> was</c><00:07:04.060><c> one</c><00:07:04.199><c> of</c><00:07:04.959><c> the</c><00:07:05.600><c> twelve.</c><00:07:05.959><c> He</c> 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:08.959 was<00:07:06.279><c> one</c><00:07:06.519><c> of</c><00:07:06.639><c> Jesus'</c><00:07:07.439><c> closest</c><00:07:07.660><c> companions.</c><00:07:08.439><c> He</c><00:07:08.720><c> spent</c> 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:15.439 a<00:07:09.120><c> lot</c><00:07:09.339><c> of</c><00:07:09.500><c> time</c><00:07:09.699><c> with</c><00:07:09.959><c> the</c><00:07:10.139><c> Lord,</c><00:07:11.439><c> heard</c><00:07:11.620><c> all</c><00:07:11.839><c> of</c><00:07:11.939><c> his</c><00:07:12.160><c> teaching</c><00:07:12.480><c> directly</c><00:07:13.120><c> firsthand.</c><00:07:14.680><c> But</c><00:07:15.060><c> of</c><00:07:15.220><c> course,</c> 00:07:15.500 --> 00:07:19.860 we<00:07:15.600><c> all</c><00:07:15.819><c> know</c><00:07:16.000><c> Judas</c><00:07:16.399><c> was</c><00:07:16.680><c> not</c><00:07:17.079><c> truly</c><00:07:17.540><c> a</c><00:07:18.019><c> follower</c><00:07:18.500><c> of</c><00:07:19.259><c> Christ</c> 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:24.100 in<00:07:20.819><c> the</c><00:07:21.019><c> sense</c><00:07:21.259><c> of</c><00:07:22.439><c> responding</c><00:07:23.060><c> to</c><00:07:23.339><c> the</c><00:07:23.579><c> message</c> 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:28.600 of<00:07:24.600><c> the</c><00:07:24.800><c> Master.</c><00:07:26.259><c> He</c><00:07:26.699><c> only</c><00:07:27.019><c> pretended</c><00:07:27.480><c> to</c><00:07:27.759><c> be</c><00:07:28.000><c> a</c><00:07:28.199><c> follower.</c><00:07:28.459><c> He</c> 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:31.939 was<00:07:28.839><c> there</c><00:07:29.180><c> amongst</c><00:07:29.540><c> the</c><00:07:29.800><c> twelve,</c><00:07:30.839><c> traveling</c><00:07:31.279><c> around,</c> 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:34.779 involved<00:07:32.819><c> in</c><00:07:32.980><c> all</c><00:07:33.100><c> their</c><00:07:33.319><c> activities,</c><00:07:33.759><c> but</c><00:07:33.899><c> he</c><00:07:34.019><c> wasn't</c><00:07:34.319><c> truly</c> 00:07:34.779 --> 00:07:36.560 one<00:07:35.019><c> of</c><00:07:35.180><c> them.</c><00:07:35.339><c> He</c><00:07:35.459><c> didn't</c><00:07:35.740><c> actually</c><00:07:36.199><c> put</c><00:07:36.399><c> into</c> 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:41.759 practice<00:07:37.379><c> what</c><00:07:37.860><c> he</c><00:07:38.160><c> learned.</c><00:07:39.240><c> He</c><00:07:39.399><c> was</c><00:07:39.759><c> a</c><00:07:40.060><c> pretender.</c><00:07:41.319><c> He</c><00:07:41.500><c> was</c> 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:45.060 a<00:07:41.920><c> counterfeit,</c><00:07:43.259><c> but</c><00:07:43.480><c> he</c><00:07:43.639><c> wasn't</c><00:07:44.000><c> the</c><00:07:44.300><c> real</c><00:07:44.720><c> thing.</c> 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:48.420 And<00:07:45.540><c> that's</c><00:07:45.699><c> not</c><00:07:45.860><c> to</c><00:07:46.040><c> say</c><00:07:46.160><c> that</c><00:07:46.339><c> he</c><00:07:46.560><c> didn't</c><00:07:46.639><c> have</c><00:07:46.800><c> the</c><00:07:46.939><c> opportunity</c><00:07:47.519><c> to</c><00:07:47.779><c> repent,</c><00:07:48.240><c> to</c> 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:50.240 respond<00:07:48.720><c> to</c><00:07:48.899><c> Jesus'</c><00:07:49.420><c> message.</c> 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.860 The<00:07:50.480><c> fact</c><00:07:50.759><c> is</c><00:07:51.000><c> he</c><00:07:51.100><c> made</c><00:07:51.319><c> a</c><00:07:51.560><c> decision,</c><00:07:52.399><c> and</c><00:07:52.620><c> he</c><00:07:52.839><c> chose</c><00:07:53.160><c> to</c><00:07:53.420><c> be</c><00:07:53.680><c> a</c> 00:07:53.860 --> 00:07:56.500 pretender.<00:07:55.199><c> And</c><00:07:55.360><c> he</c><00:07:55.420><c> was</c><00:07:55.600><c> never</c><00:07:55.819><c> really</c><00:07:56.220><c> truly</c> 00:07:56.500 --> 00:08:01.480 influenced<00:07:57.019><c> by</c><00:07:57.279><c> the</c><00:07:57.500><c> truth,</c><00:07:58.579><c> and</c><00:07:58.800><c> never</c><00:07:59.139><c> followed</c><00:07:59.540><c> the</c><00:07:59.800><c> example</c><00:08:00.240><c> of</c><00:08:00.519><c> the</c><00:08:00.639><c> Lord</c><00:08:00.819><c> Jesus.</c><00:08:01.339><c> He</c> 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:02.540 was<00:08:01.740><c> just</c><00:08:02.040><c> in</c><00:08:02.199><c> it</c><00:08:02.360><c> for</c> 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:06.399 the<00:08:02.759><c> money,</c><00:08:03.399><c> you</c><00:08:03.600><c> remember.</c><00:08:04.879><c> And</c><00:08:05.199><c> he</c><00:08:05.399><c> chose</c><00:08:05.660><c> the</c><00:08:05.939><c> path</c><00:08:06.180><c> that</c> 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.300 leads<00:08:06.639><c> to</c><00:08:06.879><c> destruction,</c><00:08:07.439><c> and</c><00:08:07.600><c> therefore</c><00:08:07.899><c> Jesus</c> 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:13.160 refers<00:08:08.819><c> to</c><00:08:09.000><c> him</c><00:08:09.139><c> as</c><00:08:09.319><c> the</c><00:08:09.519><c> son</c><00:08:09.680><c> of</c><00:08:09.920><c> perdition,</c><00:08:10.360><c> the</c><00:08:10.519><c> son</c><00:08:10.639><c> of</c><00:08:11.879><c> destruction.</c><00:08:12.959><c> So</c> 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:15.279 I<00:08:13.220><c> think</c><00:08:13.379><c> we</c><00:08:13.540><c> can</c><00:08:14.360><c> conclude</c><00:08:14.759><c> from</c><00:08:15.000><c> that</c> 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:19.720 little<00:08:15.680><c> analysis</c><00:08:16.339><c> of</c><00:08:16.620><c> Judas,</c><00:08:18.339><c> the</c><00:08:18.560><c> man</c><00:08:18.759><c> of</c><00:08:19.060><c> sin</c><00:08:19.160><c> is</c><00:08:19.420><c> going</c><00:08:19.540><c> to</c> 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:22.740 be<00:08:19.939><c> a</c><00:08:20.199><c> son</c><00:08:20.420><c> of</c><00:08:20.660><c> destruction</c><00:08:21.160><c> like</c><00:08:21.420><c> Judas.</c><00:08:22.259><c> He's</c><00:08:22.620><c> going</c> 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:26.000 to<00:08:22.839><c> be</c><00:08:23.019><c> someone</c><00:08:23.300><c> who</c><00:08:23.600><c> pretended</c><00:08:24.060><c> to</c><00:08:24.339><c> be</c><00:08:24.500><c> a</c><00:08:24.660><c> Christian,</c><00:08:25.740><c> but</c><00:08:25.860><c> he</c> 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would</c><00:08:37.740><c> be</c><00:08:38.080><c> a</c><00:08:38.259><c> much</c><00:08:38.620><c> grander</c><00:08:39.200><c> version</c><00:08:39.679><c> of</c> 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:43.419 Judas.<00:08:42.480><c> It</c><00:08:42.779><c> says</c><00:08:42.940><c> there</c><00:08:43.360><c> that</c> 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:47.159 he<00:08:43.480><c> was</c><00:08:43.580><c> going</c><00:08:43.799><c> to</c><00:08:44.120><c> exalt</c><00:08:44.419><c> himself</c><00:08:44.899><c> above</c><00:08:45.259><c> all</c><00:08:45.600><c> that</c><00:08:45.759><c> is</c><00:08:45.960><c> called</c><00:08:46.159><c> God,</c> 00:08:47.179 --> 00:08:49.299 and<00:08:47.500><c> would</c><00:08:47.980><c> claim</c><00:08:48.200><c> that</c><00:08:48.399><c> he</c><00:08:48.620><c> is</c><00:08:48.940><c> God,</c> 00:08:49.379 --> 00:08:53.080 so<00:08:49.580><c> that,</c><00:08:50.419><c> so</c><00:08:50.919><c> it</c><00:08:50.960><c> wasn't</c><00:08:51.159><c> just</c><00:08:51.539><c> the</c><00:08:51.980><c> money</c><00:08:52.320><c> that</c><00:08:52.639><c> the</c><00:08:52.759><c> man</c><00:08:52.879><c> of</c> 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.340 sin<00:08:53.200><c> was</c><00:08:53.379><c> going</c><00:08:53.580><c> to</c><00:08:53.679><c> be</c><00:08:53.840><c> after,</c><00:08:54.259><c> but</c><00:08:54.279><c> in</c><00:08:54.519><c> fact</c><00:08:54.679><c> power</c> 00:08:55.340 --> 00:09:00.539 and<00:08:56.240><c> authority.</c><00:08:58.600><c> Well,</c><00:08:58.779><c> what</c><00:08:58.960><c> about</c><00:08:59.139><c> this</c><00:08:59.460><c> restraining</c><00:09:00.080><c> power</c><00:09:00.379><c> that</c> 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:02.480 was<00:09:00.860><c> preventing</c><00:09:01.240><c> the</c><00:09:01.559><c> emergence</c><00:09:01.980><c> of</c><00:09:02.320><c> the</c> 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:10.399 man<00:09:02.639><c> of</c><00:09:02.940><c> sin?</c><00:09:05.559><c> What</c><00:09:06.080><c> was</c><00:09:06.419><c> likely</c><00:09:06.879><c> to</c><00:09:07.639><c> be</c><00:09:07.899><c> that</c><00:09:08.460><c> restraining</c><00:09:08.960><c> power?</c><00:09:09.200><c> The</c><00:09:09.340><c> Apostle</c><00:09:09.779><c> explained</c><00:09:10.179><c> it</c> 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:11.639 to<00:09:10.580><c> the</c><00:09:10.840><c> Thessalonians,</c> 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:14.620 remember<00:09:12.360><c> I</c><00:09:13.100><c> told</c><00:09:13.379><c> you</c><00:09:13.519><c> when</c><00:09:13.620><c> I</c><00:09:13.740><c> was</c><00:09:13.879><c> there,</c><00:09:14.179><c> I</c><00:09:14.200><c> told</c><00:09:14.399><c> you</c><00:09:14.539><c> of</c> 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:17.639 these<00:09:14.860><c> things.</c><00:09:15.620><c> What</c><00:09:15.940><c> was</c><00:09:16.240><c> it?</c><00:09:16.639><c> He</c><00:09:17.080><c> obviously</c><00:09:17.419><c> must</c> 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:24.360 have<00:09:17.820><c> pointed</c><00:09:18.080><c> to</c><00:09:18.419><c> something</c><00:09:18.840><c> as</c><00:09:20.080><c> being</c><00:09:21.000><c> the</c><00:09:21.799><c> restraining</c><00:09:22.379><c> power.</c><00:09:24.340><c> So</c> 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:26.960 I<00:09:24.919><c> think</c><00:09:25.320><c> it's</c><00:09:26.220><c> something</c><00:09:26.480><c> they</c><00:09:26.679><c> would</c><00:09:26.860><c> have</c> 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.700 been<00:09:27.080><c> all</c><00:09:27.299><c> familiar</c><00:09:27.620><c> with.</c><00:09:28.320><c> The</c><00:09:28.480><c> Thessalonians</c><00:09:29.100><c> would</c><00:09:29.299><c> have</c> 00:09:29.700 --> 00:09:32.700 known<00:09:30.000><c> full</c><00:09:30.340><c> well</c><00:09:30.779><c> what</c><00:09:31.279><c> it</c><00:09:31.460><c> was</c><00:09:31.720><c> the</c><00:09:32.059><c> Apostle</c><00:09:32.460><c> was</c> 00:09:32.700 --> 00:09:36.159 referring<00:09:33.039><c> to</c><00:09:33.240><c> after</c><00:09:33.539><c> he</c><00:09:33.799><c> had</c><00:09:34.000><c> explained</c><00:09:34.379><c> it</c><00:09:34.580><c> to</c><00:09:34.659><c> them.</c><00:09:35.639><c> It's</c> 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.740 a<00:09:36.340><c> power,</c><00:09:36.539><c> I</c><00:09:36.759><c> think,</c><00:09:37.019><c> that</c><00:09:37.159><c> would</c><00:09:37.299><c> have</c><00:09:37.460><c> done</c> 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:43.820 everything<00:09:38.220><c> in</c><00:09:38.340><c> its</c><00:09:38.639><c> power</c><00:09:39.159><c> to</c><00:09:41.500><c> prevent</c><00:09:42.019><c> the</c><00:09:42.399><c> emergence</c><00:09:43.000><c> of</c> 00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:46.899 any<00:09:44.100><c> kind</c><00:09:44.299><c> of</c><00:09:44.600><c> rival</c><00:09:44.960><c> to</c><00:09:45.360><c> its</c><00:09:45.620><c> own</c><00:09:45.899><c> authority,</c> 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:50.100 would<00:09:47.019><c> have</c><00:09:47.379><c> stamped</c><00:09:47.620><c> out</c><00:09:47.899><c> any</c><00:09:48.179><c> kind</c><00:09:48.399><c> of</c><00:09:48.639><c> rival</c><00:09:48.919><c> system,</c><00:09:49.820><c> any</c> 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:53.340 sort<00:09:50.299><c> of</c><00:09:50.580><c> wave</c><00:09:50.820><c> of</c><00:09:51.259><c> popularity</c><00:09:51.720><c> that</c><00:09:52.799><c> would</c><00:09:53.000><c> have</c> 00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:59.480 unseated<00:09:53.820><c> it</c><00:09:54.259><c> as</c><00:09:54.879><c> the</c><00:09:55.080><c> prevailing</c><00:09:55.580><c> power,</c><00:09:55.980><c> as</c><00:09:56.139><c> the</c><00:09:56.480><c> status</c><00:09:56.799><c> quo.</c><00:09:57.840><c> And</c><00:09:58.100><c> it's</c><00:09:58.299><c> the</c><00:09:58.519><c> same</c><00:09:58.759><c> power,</c><00:09:59.080><c> I</c><00:09:59.279><c> think,</c> 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:03.580 that<00:09:59.659><c> was</c><00:09:59.840><c> involved</c><00:10:00.240><c> in</c><00:10:00.379><c> the</c><00:10:00.559><c> crucifixion</c><00:10:01.139><c> of</c><00:10:01.279><c> the</c><00:10:01.419><c> Lord</c><00:10:01.580><c> Jesus.</c><00:10:03.019><c> It's</c> 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:05.419 the<00:10:03.799><c> same</c><00:10:04.019><c> power</c><00:10:04.279><c> that</c><00:10:04.419><c> was</c><00:10:04.679><c> already</c><00:10:05.139><c> in</c> 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:12.139 the<00:10:05.419><c> first</c><00:10:05.700><c> century</c><00:10:06.139><c> threatening</c><00:10:06.700><c> the</c><00:10:07.720><c> Apostles.</c><00:10:10.679><c> And</c><00:10:11.019><c> I</c><00:10:11.200><c> think</c><00:10:11.519><c> it's</c><00:10:11.960><c> the</c> 00:10:12.139 --> 00:10:13.580 power<00:10:12.340><c> that</c><00:10:12.480><c> is</c><00:10:12.679><c> referred</c><00:10:13.000><c> to</c><00:10:13.200><c> in</c><00:10:13.340><c> the</c> 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:18.100 passages<00:10:13.860><c> that</c><00:10:14.240><c> are</c><00:10:14.480><c> on</c><00:10:14.700><c> the</c><00:10:14.980><c> screen.</c><00:10:16.139><c> First,</c><00:10:16.600><c> in</c><00:10:16.759><c> the</c><00:10:16.899><c> writings</c><00:10:17.299><c> of</c><00:10:17.720><c> Peter</c><00:10:17.940><c> in</c> 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:18.980 his<00:10:18.299><c> first</c><00:10:18.580><c> epistle,</c> 00:10:19.419 --> 00:10:23.259 be<00:10:19.620><c> sober,</c><00:10:20.120><c> be</c><00:10:20.259><c> vigilant,</c><00:10:20.700><c> because</c><00:10:21.000><c> your</c><00:10:21.440><c> adversary,</c><00:10:22.179><c> the</c><00:10:22.360><c> devil,</c><00:10:23.039><c> as</c> 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:25.320 a<00:10:23.500><c> roaring</c><00:10:23.759><c> lion,</c><00:10:24.340><c> walks</c><00:10:24.539><c> about</c><00:10:24.860><c> seeking</c> 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:30.659 whom<00:10:25.639><c> he</c><00:10:25.820><c> may</c><00:10:26.519><c> devour.</c><00:10:28.019><c> Paul</c><00:10:28.279><c> says</c><00:10:28.600><c> in</c><00:10:28.759><c> 2</c><00:10:29.039><c> Timothy,</c><00:10:29.559><c> I</c><00:10:29.720><c> was</c><00:10:30.000><c> delivered</c><00:10:30.399><c> out</c> 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:34.059 of<00:10:30.779><c> the</c><00:10:30.980><c> mouth</c><00:10:31.259><c> of</c><00:10:31.539><c> the</c><00:10:31.759><c> lion.</c><00:10:33.320><c> And</c><00:10:33.679><c> Jesus</c> 00:10:34.059 --> 00:10:38.500 said<00:10:35.019><c> back</c><00:10:35.620><c> in</c><00:10:36.240><c> Revelation</c><00:10:36.720><c> chapter</c><00:10:37.220><c> 2</c><00:10:37.580><c> verse</c><00:10:37.820><c> 10,</c><00:10:38.159><c> Behold,</c> 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:41.360 the<00:10:38.720><c> devil</c><00:10:39.000><c> shall</c><00:10:39.279><c> cast</c><00:10:39.580><c> some</c><00:10:39.799><c> of</c><00:10:39.940><c> you</c><00:10:40.059><c> into</c><00:10:40.299><c> prison</c><00:10:40.779><c> that</c> 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.379 you<00:10:41.539><c> may</c><00:10:41.700><c> be</c><00:10:42.000><c> tried,</c><00:10:42.620><c> and</c><00:10:42.840><c> you</c><00:10:43.080><c> shall</c><00:10:43.200><c> have</c><00:10:43.460><c> tribulation</c><00:10:44.080><c> ten</c> 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:47.419 days.<00:10:45.320><c> And</c><00:10:45.460><c> in</c><00:10:45.600><c> verse</c><00:10:45.799><c> 13,</c><00:10:46.320><c> I</c><00:10:46.500><c> know</c><00:10:46.720><c> your</c><00:10:47.000><c> works,</c> 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:52.080 and<00:10:48.019><c> where</c><00:10:48.220><c> you</c><00:10:48.440><c> dwell,</c><00:10:48.740><c> even</c><00:10:49.039><c> where</c><00:10:49.360><c> Satan's</c><00:10:50.340><c> seat</c><00:10:50.539><c> is.</c><00:10:51.759><c> All</c> 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:54.600 that<00:10:52.240><c> to</c><00:10:52.460><c> say</c><00:10:52.620><c> that</c><00:10:52.779><c> I</c><00:10:52.899><c> think</c><00:10:53.139><c> the</c><00:10:53.539><c> restraining</c><00:10:53.960><c> power</c> 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:58.759 was<00:10:55.500><c> the</c><00:10:55.860><c> pagan</c><00:10:56.139><c> Roman</c><00:10:56.700><c> authorities,</c><00:10:57.360><c> who,</c><00:10:57.600><c> of</c><00:10:57.720><c> course,</c><00:10:58.179><c> were</c> 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:01.039 the<00:10:59.039><c> prevailing</c><00:10:59.440><c> power</c><00:10:59.879><c> at</c><00:11:00.139><c> the</c><00:11:00.340><c> time</c><00:11:00.559><c> in</c><00:11:00.700><c> the</c><00:11:00.799><c> first</c> 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:06.220 century,<00:11:02.440><c> preventing</c><00:11:02.960><c> any</c><00:11:03.940><c> kind</c><00:11:04.100><c> of</c><00:11:04.259><c> rival</c><00:11:04.500><c> system</c><00:11:04.879><c> to</c><00:11:05.200><c> develop</c><00:11:05.539><c> and</c> 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.980 making<00:11:06.460><c> life</c><00:11:06.740><c> very,</c><00:11:07.080><c> very</c><00:11:07.360><c> difficult</c><00:11:07.779><c> for</c> 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:11.899 the<00:11:08.179><c> Apostles,</c><00:11:09.600><c> because</c><00:11:09.860><c> they</c><00:11:10.039><c> weren't</c><00:11:10.320><c> conforming</c><00:11:11.500><c> to</c><00:11:11.759><c> the</c> 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:15.379 Roman<00:11:12.259><c> way</c><00:11:12.559><c> of</c><00:11:12.840><c> life.</c><00:11:13.600><c> So</c><00:11:13.799><c> I</c><00:11:13.879><c> think</c><00:11:14.120><c> that's</c><00:11:14.879><c> our</c> 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:25.080 restraining<00:11:15.899><c> power.</c><00:11:16.820><c> It's</c><00:11:17.259><c> the</c><00:11:17.580><c> pagan</c><00:11:18.059><c> Roman</c><00:11:18.799><c> system.</c><00:11:24.480><c> Well,</c> 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.340 what<00:11:25.240><c> about</c><00:11:25.419><c> this</c><00:11:25.679><c> pagan</c><00:11:25.960><c> Roman</c><00:11:26.259><c> system,</c><00:11:26.720><c> and</c><00:11:27.000><c> what</c> 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:31.840 havoc<00:11:28.139><c> did</c><00:11:28.340><c> it</c><00:11:28.539><c> wreak</c><00:11:29.080><c> for</c><00:11:30.080><c> the</c><00:11:30.440><c> believers</c><00:11:30.679><c> in</c><00:11:30.899><c> the</c><00:11:30.960><c> first</c><00:11:31.179><c> century?</c><00:11:31.700><c> One</c> 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:34.820 of<00:11:31.980><c> the</c><00:11:32.220><c> best</c><00:11:32.460><c> examples,</c><00:11:32.940><c> I</c><00:11:33.100><c> think,</c><00:11:33.379><c> of</c><00:11:34.559><c> the</c> 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:39.919 pagan<00:11:35.039><c> Roman</c><00:11:35.379><c> power</c><00:11:35.700><c> at</c><00:11:35.899><c> its</c><00:11:36.139><c> worst</c><00:11:36.460><c> is</c><00:11:37.500><c> life</c><00:11:37.940><c> under</c><00:11:38.320><c> the</c><00:11:38.539><c> emperor</c><00:11:38.799><c> Nero,</c><00:11:39.779><c> who,</c> 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:41.720 of<00:11:40.059><c> course,</c><00:11:40.360><c> ruled</c><00:11:40.639><c> from</c><00:11:40.940><c> around</c> 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:46.700 AD<00:11:42.019><c> 54</c><00:11:42.539><c> to</c><00:11:42.740><c> 68.</c><00:11:43.899><c> He</c><00:11:44.259><c> was</c><00:11:44.480><c> notorious</c><00:11:45.080><c> for</c><00:11:45.379><c> his</c><00:11:45.720><c> poor</c><00:11:45.919><c> behavior</c> 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:51.700 towards<00:11:48.419><c> the</c><00:11:48.720><c> Christians.</c><00:11:50.580><c> And,</c><00:11:50.759><c> of</c><00:11:51.100><c> course,</c><00:11:51.240><c> we</c><00:11:51.480><c> know</c> 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:54.320 that<00:11:51.860><c> the</c><00:11:52.059><c> Roman</c><00:11:52.279><c> power</c><00:11:52.580><c> was</c><00:11:52.820><c> that</c><00:11:53.120><c> dreadful</c><00:11:53.700><c> and</c><00:11:53.879><c> terrible</c> 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:57.059 fourth<00:11:54.659><c> beast</c><00:11:54.960><c> that</c><00:11:55.320><c> Daniel</c><00:11:55.659><c> saw</c><00:11:56.059><c> in</c><00:11:56.299><c> vision</c><00:11:56.559><c> in</c><00:11:56.799><c> Daniel</c> 00:11:57.059 --> 00:12:02.539 chapter<00:11:57.340><c> 7.</c><00:11:58.659><c> It</c><00:11:58.779><c> had</c><00:11:59.000><c> ten</c><00:11:59.299><c> horns,</c><00:12:00.399><c> iron</c><00:12:00.700><c> teeth.</c><00:12:01.779><c> It</c><00:12:02.080><c> devoured.</c> 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:05.279 It<00:12:02.820><c> broke</c><00:12:03.039><c> in</c><00:12:03.279><c> pieces.</c><00:12:03.940><c> It</c><00:12:04.299><c> stamped</c><00:12:04.480><c> the</c><00:12:04.759><c> residue</c><00:12:05.059><c> with</c> 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:09.860 its<00:12:05.639><c> feet.</c><00:12:06.379><c> It</c><00:12:06.480><c> was</c><00:12:06.679><c> a</c><00:12:06.759><c> very</c><00:12:07.080><c> destructive</c><00:12:07.740><c> power,</c><00:12:08.700><c> and</c><00:12:08.919><c> it</c><00:12:09.200><c> dominated</c><00:12:09.620><c> the</c> 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:12.600 Jewish<00:12:10.139><c> people.</c><00:12:11.360><c> And,</c><00:12:11.600><c> as</c><00:12:11.799><c> we</c><00:12:12.000><c> know,</c><00:12:12.440><c> in</c> 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:16.179 AD<00:12:12.840><c> 70,</c><00:12:13.279><c> God</c><00:12:13.500><c> used</c><00:12:13.919><c> the</c><00:12:14.159><c> Roman</c><00:12:14.500><c> army</c><00:12:14.899><c> as</c><00:12:15.240><c> an</c><00:12:15.559><c> instrument</c><00:12:15.879><c> to</c> 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:19.279 punish<00:12:16.440><c> his</c><00:12:16.720><c> people.</c><00:12:17.840><c> The</c><00:12:18.059><c> Roman</c><00:12:18.259><c> army</c><00:12:18.519><c> destroyed</c><00:12:19.019><c> the</c> 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:22.100 temple,<00:12:20.039><c> brought</c><00:12:20.320><c> to</c><00:12:20.519><c> an</c><00:12:20.679><c> end</c><00:12:20.799><c> the</c><00:12:21.139><c> offerings.</c><00:12:21.500><c> It</c><00:12:21.840><c> scattered</c> 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:25.299 the<00:12:22.419><c> Jews.</c><00:12:23.679><c> And,</c><00:12:24.019><c> of</c><00:12:24.539><c> course,</c><00:12:24.840><c> the</c><00:12:25.080><c> Romans</c> 00:12:25.299 --> 00:12:30.299 actually<00:12:25.779><c> permitted</c><00:12:26.240><c> the</c><00:12:26.559><c> Jews</c><00:12:26.940><c> to</c><00:12:28.279><c> maintain</c><00:12:28.759><c> their</c><00:12:29.059><c> religious</c><00:12:29.539><c> customs.</c><00:12:30.240><c> They</c> 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.580 provided<00:12:30.580><c> them</c><00:12:30.799><c> with</c><00:12:31.120><c> some</c> 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:34.340 flexibility<00:12:32.299><c> throughout</c><00:12:32.919><c> the</c><00:12:33.200><c> empire,</c><00:12:33.639><c> in</c><00:12:33.659><c> fact,</c><00:12:33.879><c> not</c><00:12:34.059><c> just</c> 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:37.120 in<00:12:34.539><c> Judea.</c><00:12:35.779><c> And,</c><00:12:36.179><c> because</c><00:12:36.279><c> the</c><00:12:36.519><c> Christians</c><00:12:36.840><c> were</c> 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:43.279 so<00:12:37.919><c> closely</c><00:12:38.320><c> associated</c><00:12:39.039><c> with</c><00:12:39.419><c> the</c><00:12:39.679><c> Jews,</c><00:12:40.779><c> for</c><00:12:41.019><c> a</c><00:12:41.220><c> time</c><00:12:41.360><c> the</c><00:12:41.580><c> Christians</c><00:12:41.980><c> enjoyed</c><00:12:42.559><c> a</c> 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.639 similar<00:12:43.559><c> degree</c><00:12:43.860><c> of</c><00:12:44.139><c> flexibility</c> 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:52.399 and<00:12:45.000><c> autonomy</c><00:12:45.440><c> in</c><00:12:45.559><c> terms</c><00:12:45.840><c> of</c><00:12:46.960><c> their</c><00:12:47.399><c> practices</c><00:12:48.080><c> and</c><00:12:49.139><c> their</c><00:12:49.360><c> traditions.</c><00:12:50.820><c> However,</c><00:12:51.320><c> from</c><00:12:51.600><c> time</c><00:12:51.799><c> to</c><00:12:52.000><c> time,</c> 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.779 the<00:12:52.840><c> Christians</c><00:12:53.340><c> were</c><00:12:53.700><c> subject</c><00:12:54.179><c> to</c><00:12:54.440><c> periods</c><00:12:54.720><c> of</c><00:12:55.039><c> persecution</c> 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:58.279 by<00:12:56.480><c> the</c><00:12:56.700><c> pagan</c><00:12:56.980><c> Roman</c><00:12:57.379><c> authorities.</c><00:12:58.139><c> And,</c> 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:00.720 one<00:12:58.360><c> of</c><00:12:58.460><c> the</c><00:12:58.559><c> earliest</c><00:12:58.940><c> of</c><00:12:59.159><c> these</c><00:12:59.360><c> is</c><00:12:59.779><c> the</c><00:13:00.039><c> example</c><00:13:00.340><c> of</c><00:13:00.559><c> Nero</c> 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:04.080 that<00:13:00.879><c> we've</c><00:13:01.139><c> already</c><00:13:01.419><c> referred</c><00:13:01.820><c> to.</c><00:13:03.220><c> And,</c><00:13:03.620><c> of</c><00:13:03.820><c> course,</c> 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:07.440 you'll<00:13:04.620><c> already</c><00:13:04.840><c> know</c><00:13:05.019><c> that</c><00:13:05.700><c> the</c><00:13:05.919><c> Apostle</c><00:13:06.299><c> Paul</c><00:13:06.559><c> himself</c><00:13:07.159><c> is</c> 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:09.980 believed<00:13:07.700><c> to</c><00:13:07.940><c> have</c><00:13:08.080><c> been</c><00:13:08.860><c> put</c><00:13:09.100><c> to</c><00:13:09.320><c> death</c><00:13:09.480><c> under</c><00:13:09.759><c> the</c> 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:16.860 reign<00:13:10.559><c> of</c><00:13:11.179><c> Nero.</c><00:13:11.480><c> So,</c><00:13:11.700><c> Nero,</c><00:13:12.559><c> it</c><00:13:13.139><c> is</c><00:13:13.360><c> thought,</c><00:13:14.580><c> burned</c><00:13:14.799><c> down</c><00:13:15.220><c> a</c> 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:22.379 very<00:13:16.960><c> decrepit</c><00:13:18.240><c> area</c><00:13:19.059><c> of</c><00:13:19.480><c> Rome</c><00:13:19.860><c> because</c><00:13:20.500><c> he</c><00:13:20.679><c> wanted</c><00:13:20.879><c> to</c> 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:26.820 build<00:13:22.659><c> something</c><00:13:23.080><c> new.</c><00:13:24.320><c> And,</c><00:13:24.480><c> the</c><00:13:24.679><c> Christians</c><00:13:25.120><c> were</c><00:13:25.419><c> actually</c><00:13:26.320><c> labeled</c> 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:28.899 as<00:13:27.279><c> the</c><00:13:27.620><c> scapegoats</c><00:13:28.139><c> for</c><00:13:28.360><c> what</c><00:13:28.639><c> Nero</c> 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:32.299 had<00:13:29.120><c> done.</c><00:13:29.419><c> So,</c><00:13:29.639><c> Nero</c><00:13:30.159><c> set</c><00:13:30.620><c> the</c><00:13:30.879><c> fire,</c><00:13:31.100><c> it</c><00:13:31.200><c> is</c><00:13:31.340><c> believed,</c><00:13:32.139><c> but</c> 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:35.720 he<00:13:32.559><c> blamed</c><00:13:32.759><c> it</c><00:13:33.019><c> on</c><00:13:33.279><c> the</c><00:13:33.480><c> Christians.</c><00:13:34.759><c> And,</c><00:13:35.480><c> he</c> 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:42.740 treated<00:13:36.360><c> the</c><00:13:36.600><c> Christians</c><00:13:37.019><c> with</c><00:13:37.379><c> extreme</c><00:13:38.019><c> cruelty</c><00:13:38.620><c> and</c><00:13:38.940><c> brutality.</c><00:13:40.679><c> He</c><00:13:41.279><c> subjected</c><00:13:41.740><c> them</c><00:13:42.159><c> to</c> 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:44.600 wild<00:13:43.039><c> beasts.</c><00:13:44.299><c> He</c> 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:50.120 had<00:13:44.879><c> some</c><00:13:45.120><c> of</c><00:13:45.220><c> them</c><00:13:45.379><c> tied</c><00:13:45.779><c> to</c><00:13:46.379><c> stakes</c><00:13:46.899><c> and</c><00:13:48.940><c> tarred</c><00:13:49.620><c> and</c><00:13:49.879><c> then</c> 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:52.519 lit<00:13:50.220><c> on</c><00:13:50.559><c> fire.</c><00:13:51.299><c> And,</c><00:13:51.460><c> this</c><00:13:51.559><c> is</c><00:13:51.740><c> in</c><00:13:51.840><c> his</c><00:13:52.080><c> backyard</c> 00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:56.460 where<00:13:52.759><c> he's</c><00:13:53.000><c> having</c><00:13:53.539><c> a</c><00:13:54.360><c> party</c><00:13:54.659><c> with</c><00:13:54.860><c> his</c><00:13:55.159><c> friends.</c><00:13:56.159><c> And</c><00:13:56.379><c> so,</c> 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.320 the<00:13:56.659><c> Christians</c><00:13:56.980><c> were</c><00:13:57.299><c> used</c><00:13:57.659><c> as</c><00:13:58.860><c> the</c> 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:04.399 patio<00:14:00.679><c> lantern,</c><00:14:01.159><c> so</c><00:14:01.399><c> to</c><00:14:01.639><c> speak.</c><00:14:02.899><c> But,</c><00:14:03.120><c> it's</c><00:14:03.379><c> thought</c><00:14:03.539><c> that</c> 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.679 Nero's<00:14:05.080><c> persecution</c><00:14:05.620><c> was</c><00:14:05.919><c> very</c><00:14:06.279><c> confined,</c> 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.200 very<00:14:07.039><c> limited</c><00:14:07.440><c> to</c><00:14:07.679><c> Christians</c><00:14:08.279><c> in</c><00:14:08.960><c> the</c><00:14:09.159><c> Roman</c><00:14:09.360><c> city</c><00:14:09.720><c> itself.</c> 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:14.220 This<00:14:10.820><c> was</c><00:14:11.019><c> not</c><00:14:11.259><c> a</c><00:14:11.379><c> widespread</c><00:14:12.360><c> broad</c><00:14:13.019><c> persecution.</c><00:14:14.080><c> So,</c> 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:20.279 the<00:14:14.960><c> ancient</c><00:14:15.299><c> historian</c><00:14:15.840><c> Tacitus</c><00:14:17.019><c> writes</c><00:14:17.980><c> that</c><00:14:18.320><c> Nero</c><00:14:18.620><c> substituted</c><00:14:19.360><c> as</c><00:14:19.620><c> culprits</c><00:14:20.039><c> and</c> 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.940 punished<00:14:20.539><c> with</c><00:14:20.799><c> the</c> 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:25.820 utmost<00:14:21.360><c> refinements</c><00:14:22.100><c> of</c><00:14:22.360><c> cruelty</c><00:14:22.820><c> a</c><00:14:23.580><c> class</c><00:14:23.840><c> of</c><00:14:24.120><c> men</c><00:14:25.019><c> loathed</c> 00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:27.700 for<00:14:25.980><c> their</c><00:14:26.179><c> vices</c><00:14:26.580><c> whom</c><00:14:26.759><c> the</c><00:14:27.039><c> crowd</c><00:14:27.259><c> styled</c> 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:32.179 Christians.<00:14:28.919><c> So,</c><00:14:29.159><c> here</c><00:14:29.340><c> we</c><00:14:29.519><c> have</c><00:14:29.639><c> one</c><00:14:29.820><c> of</c><00:14:29.899><c> the</c><00:14:30.019><c> earliest</c><00:14:30.440><c> mentions</c><00:14:30.960><c> of</c> 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:34.159 Christians<00:14:32.700><c> in</c><00:14:33.139><c> the</c><00:14:33.279><c> ancient</c><00:14:33.659><c> historians.</c> 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:38.700 By<00:14:34.720><c> the</c><00:14:34.899><c> way,</c><00:14:35.879><c> Nero's</c><00:14:36.419><c> actions</c><00:14:36.860><c> towards</c><00:14:37.419><c> the</c><00:14:37.700><c> Christians</c><00:14:38.200><c> was</c> 00:14:38.700 --> 00:14:44.419 absolutely<00:14:39.759><c> not</c><00:14:41.539><c> something</c><00:14:42.120><c> that</c><00:14:43.600><c> grew</c><00:14:44.100><c> his</c> 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:47.820 popularity<00:14:44.980><c> with</c><00:14:45.720><c> the</c><00:14:45.980><c> pagan</c><00:14:46.220><c> Roman</c><00:14:46.759><c> populace.</c><00:14:47.460><c> It</c><00:14:47.559><c> turns</c> 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:49.879 out<00:14:48.000><c> they</c><00:14:48.139><c> were</c><00:14:48.320><c> actually</c><00:14:48.799><c> disgusted</c><00:14:49.240><c> with</c><00:14:49.519><c> the</c><00:14:49.620><c> way</c> 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:54.200 that<00:14:50.080><c> he</c><00:14:50.240><c> treated</c><00:14:50.580><c> the</c><00:14:51.399><c> Christians.</c><00:14:53.259><c> We</c><00:14:53.399><c> just</c><00:14:53.679><c> move</c><00:14:53.899><c> forward</c> 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:56.779 now<00:14:54.480><c> to</c><00:14:54.639><c> the</c><00:14:54.779><c> time</c><00:14:54.960><c> of</c><00:14:55.320><c> the</c><00:14:55.500><c> emperor</c><00:14:55.759><c> Trajan</c> 00:14:56.980 --> 00:15:05.519 in<00:14:57.399><c> around</c><00:14:57.820><c> AD</c><00:14:58.200><c> 98.</c><00:15:01.100><c> And,</c><00:15:01.539><c> there</c><00:15:01.940><c> was,</c><00:15:02.600><c> there's</c><00:15:02.940><c> very</c><00:15:03.440><c> well</c><00:15:03.940><c> documented</c><00:15:04.460><c> evidence</c><00:15:04.919><c> of</c> 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.399 persecution<00:15:06.100><c> under</c> 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:11.720 this<00:15:06.679><c> particular</c><00:15:07.259><c> emperor.</c><00:15:08.659><c> This</c><00:15:08.960><c> is</c><00:15:09.340><c> an</c><00:15:09.620><c> example</c><00:15:09.960><c> of</c><00:15:10.220><c> an</c><00:15:10.440><c> exchange</c><00:15:10.860><c> between</c><00:15:11.440><c> the</c> 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.000 emperor<00:15:11.940><c> Trajan</c> 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:16.480 and<00:15:13.539><c> one</c><00:15:13.960><c> of</c><00:15:14.039><c> his</c><00:15:14.240><c> regional</c><00:15:14.659><c> governors,</c><00:15:15.200><c> a</c><00:15:15.200><c> man</c><00:15:15.360><c> named</c><00:15:15.620><c> Pliny.</c> 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.940 And,<00:15:17.279><c> it</c><00:15:17.419><c> concerns</c><00:15:17.820><c> the</c><00:15:18.120><c> treatment</c><00:15:18.340><c> of</c><00:15:18.519><c> Christians</c> 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:23.059 who<00:15:19.220><c> refused</c><00:15:19.659><c> to</c><00:15:20.679><c> disavow</c><00:15:21.259><c> their</c><00:15:21.539><c> religious</c><00:15:21.940><c> beliefs</c><00:15:22.399><c> and</c><00:15:22.759><c> to</c> 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:25.080 offer<00:15:23.299><c> incense</c><00:15:23.779><c> to</c><00:15:24.159><c> the</c><00:15:24.340><c> emperor,</c><00:15:24.600><c> which</c><00:15:24.820><c> was</c> 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:28.679 a<00:15:25.340><c> requirement.</c><00:15:26.539><c> And,</c><00:15:27.220><c> it</c><00:15:27.440><c> shows,</c><00:15:27.659><c> I</c><00:15:27.840><c> think,</c><00:15:28.100><c> the</c><00:15:28.259><c> ruthless</c> 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.980 treatment<00:15:29.080><c> of</c><00:15:29.220><c> the</c><00:15:29.379><c> Christians</c><00:15:29.720><c> by</c><00:15:30.039><c> this</c><00:15:30.980><c> uncompromising</c> 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:36.919 pagan<00:15:32.480><c> Roman</c><00:15:32.940><c> power.</c><00:15:34.059><c> And,</c><00:15:34.519><c> Pliny</c><00:15:34.899><c> had</c><00:15:35.240><c> noted</c><00:15:35.860><c> to</c><00:15:36.259><c> Trajan</c><00:15:36.519><c> that</c><00:15:36.720><c> the</c> 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.679 pagan<00:15:37.139><c> economy</c><00:15:37.580><c> was</c><00:15:37.840><c> actually</c><00:15:38.179><c> suffering</c> 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:43.639 because<00:15:39.019><c> so</c><00:15:39.320><c> many</c><00:15:39.559><c> people</c><00:15:40.179><c> were</c><00:15:41.240><c> converting</c><00:15:41.679><c> over</c><00:15:42.120><c> to</c><00:15:42.279><c> the</c><00:15:42.419><c> Christian</c><00:15:42.779><c> faith</c><00:15:43.080><c> and</c><00:15:43.240><c> were</c><00:15:43.379><c> no</c> 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.970 longer<00:15:43.879><c> going</c><00:15:44.200><c> to</c> 00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:49.399 the<00:15:45.200><c> temples</c><00:15:45.500><c> and</c><00:15:45.799><c> buying</c><00:15:46.039><c> the</c><00:15:46.460><c> offerings</c><00:15:46.799><c> and</c><00:15:47.039><c> making</c><00:15:47.360><c> contributions.</c><00:15:49.399><c> And</c> 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:52.240 so,<00:15:50.580><c> Trajan,</c><00:15:51.179><c> so</c><00:15:51.500><c> Pliny</c><00:15:51.659><c> is</c><00:15:51.940><c> actually</c> 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.419 consulting<00:15:52.720><c> with</c><00:15:52.980><c> Trajan</c><00:15:53.279><c> saying,</c><00:15:53.600><c> well,</c><00:15:53.740><c> this</c><00:15:53.960><c> is</c><00:15:54.100><c> how</c><00:15:54.200><c> I'm</c> 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:57.659 handling<00:15:54.779><c> it</c><00:15:55.220><c> and</c><00:15:55.700><c> I</c><00:15:56.059><c> don't</c><00:15:56.279><c> want</c><00:15:56.519><c> to</c><00:15:56.679><c> do</c><00:15:56.820><c> anything</c> 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:02.440 that<00:15:58.100><c> you</c><00:15:58.299><c> would</c><00:15:58.539><c> think</c><00:15:58.679><c> to</c><00:15:58.860><c> be</c><00:15:59.039><c> improper.</c><00:16:00.019><c> So,</c><00:16:00.559><c> Pliny</c><00:16:00.799><c> goes</c><00:16:01.019><c> on</c><00:16:01.360><c> in</c><00:16:01.559><c> his</c><00:16:01.779><c> letters</c><00:16:02.019><c> and</c><00:16:02.139><c> there's</c><00:16:02.360><c> a</c> 00:16:02.440 --> 00:16:03.220 very<00:16:02.759><c> extensive</c> 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:06.860 back<00:16:03.519><c> and</c><00:16:03.759><c> forth</c><00:16:04.019><c> between</c><00:16:04.399><c> the</c><00:16:04.620><c> two.</c><00:16:05.620><c> Pliny</c><00:16:05.740><c> explains</c><00:16:06.539><c> to</c><00:16:06.679><c> him</c> 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:09.340 what<00:16:07.080><c> exactly</c><00:16:07.480><c> he's</c><00:16:07.740><c> doing</c><00:16:07.960><c> about</c><00:16:08.200><c> the</c><00:16:08.399><c> Christians.</c> 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.960 So,<00:16:10.620><c> it</c><00:16:10.659><c> turns</c><00:16:10.879><c> out</c><00:16:11.120><c> that</c><00:16:11.320><c> Pliny</c><00:16:11.559><c> was</c><00:16:11.820><c> doing</c><00:16:12.019><c> the</c><00:16:12.240><c> right</c><00:16:12.500><c> thing.</c><00:16:12.960><c> They</c> 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:15.659 were,<00:16:14.080><c> there</c><00:16:14.279><c> were</c><00:16:14.679><c> accusations</c><00:16:15.200><c> made</c> 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:21.879 from<00:16:16.100><c> people</c><00:16:16.460><c> within</c><00:16:17.139><c> the</c><00:16:17.820><c> area</c><00:16:18.039><c> where</c><00:16:18.299><c> Pliny</c><00:16:18.559><c> was</c><00:16:18.799><c> governing.</c><00:16:20.220><c> Christians</c><00:16:20.639><c> were</c><00:16:20.980><c> accused</c><00:16:21.399><c> as</c><00:16:21.639><c> being</c> 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:25.399 Christians.<00:16:22.799><c> They</c><00:16:22.980><c> were</c><00:16:23.179><c> taken</c><00:16:23.440><c> aside.</c><00:16:23.820><c> They</c><00:16:23.960><c> were</c><00:16:24.240><c> interviewed.</c><00:16:24.980><c> If</c><00:16:25.159><c> they</c> 00:16:25.399 --> 00:16:26.799 recanted,<00:16:25.899><c> they</c><00:16:26.080><c> were</c><00:16:26.279><c> let</c><00:16:26.480><c> go.</c> 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:29.899 If<00:16:27.279><c> they</c><00:16:27.519><c> refused</c><00:16:27.980><c> to</c><00:16:28.240><c> recant</c><00:16:28.580><c> and</c><00:16:28.759><c> refused</c><00:16:29.120><c> to</c><00:16:29.379><c> offer</c><00:16:29.539><c> to</c><00:16:29.720><c> the</c> 00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:33.500 emperor,<00:16:30.840><c> then</c><00:16:31.179><c> they</c><00:16:31.519><c> were</c><00:16:31.919><c> executed</c><00:16:32.480><c> just</c> 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:39.000 dispatched.<00:16:35.000><c> Christians</c><00:16:35.259><c> were</c><00:16:35.620><c> viewed</c><00:16:35.860><c> as</c><00:16:36.879><c> obstinate</c><00:16:37.419><c> if</c><00:16:37.779><c> they</c><00:16:38.039><c> weren't</c><00:16:38.220><c> prepared</c><00:16:38.700><c> to</c> 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.840 offer<00:16:39.320><c> to</c><00:16:39.519><c> the</c><00:16:39.700><c> emperor.</c> 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:42.960 And,<00:16:40.019><c> of</c><00:16:40.100><c> course,</c><00:16:40.299><c> the</c><00:16:40.539><c> Roman</c><00:16:40.740><c> authorities</c><00:16:41.460><c> had</c><00:16:42.460><c> viewed</c><00:16:42.620><c> this</c> 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:46.639 as<00:16:43.500><c> sort</c><00:16:43.720><c> of</c><00:16:43.980><c> a</c><00:16:44.220><c> rival</c><00:16:45.240><c> system.</c><00:16:46.039><c> It</c><00:16:46.159><c> was</c><00:16:46.360><c> something</c> 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:51.240 they<00:16:46.820><c> were</c><00:16:46.960><c> not</c><00:16:47.240><c> comfortable</c><00:16:47.580><c> with</c><00:16:47.840><c> because</c><00:16:48.139><c> it</c><00:16:48.379><c> was</c><00:16:49.799><c> inhibiting</c><00:16:50.299><c> the</c><00:16:50.600><c> loyalty</c><00:16:51.000><c> of</c> 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:52.120 the<00:16:51.460><c> citizens</c><00:16:51.779><c> of</c><00:16:51.960><c> the</c> 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:55.139 Roman<00:16:52.340><c> empire</c><00:16:52.899><c> and</c><00:16:53.519><c> so</c><00:16:53.759><c> that's</c><00:16:53.960><c> why</c><00:16:54.179><c> they</c><00:16:54.299><c> were</c><00:16:54.519><c> treated</c><00:16:54.779><c> so</c> 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:58.440 ruthlessly.<00:16:56.100><c> So,</c><00:16:56.320><c> it's</c><00:16:56.940><c> interesting</c><00:16:57.419><c> that</c><00:16:58.000><c> Trajan</c> 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:01.539 actually<00:16:58.899><c> forbade</c><00:16:59.360><c> the</c><00:16:59.620><c> searching</c><00:16:59.899><c> out</c><00:17:00.139><c> of</c><00:17:00.360><c> Christians</c><00:17:00.840><c> and</c> 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:05.339 also<00:17:01.840><c> he</c><00:17:01.960><c> would</c><00:17:02.159><c> not</c><00:17:02.440><c> accept</c><00:17:03.440><c> anonymous</c><00:17:04.460><c> accusations</c> 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:09.240 about<00:17:05.720><c> someone</c><00:17:06.000><c> being</c><00:17:06.259><c> a</c><00:17:06.460><c> Christian.</c><00:17:07.180><c> But</c><00:17:07.380><c> if</c><00:17:07.539><c> there</c><00:17:07.819><c> was</c><00:17:08.119><c> evidence</c><00:17:08.519><c> that</c><00:17:08.799><c> someone</c><00:17:09.039><c> was</c> 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.059 a<00:17:09.400><c> Christian,</c><00:17:09.700><c> they</c><00:17:09.859><c> were</c> 00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:17.140 to<00:17:10.200><c> be</c><00:17:10.339><c> dealt</c><00:17:10.519><c> with</c><00:17:10.779><c> in</c><00:17:11.200><c> this</c><00:17:11.500><c> way.</c><00:17:15.700><c> And,</c><00:17:16.019><c> incidentally,</c><00:17:16.680><c> it's</c> 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:19.200 thought<00:17:17.359><c> that</c><00:17:17.559><c> this</c><00:17:17.759><c> period</c><00:17:17.960><c> under</c><00:17:18.279><c> Trajan</c><00:17:18.740><c> and</c> 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.559 this<00:17:19.420><c> persecution</c><00:17:20.000><c> is</c><00:17:20.519><c> what</c><00:17:20.680><c> is</c><00:17:20.940><c> referred</c><00:17:21.259><c> to</c><00:17:21.579><c> in</c><00:17:22.000><c> Revelation</c> 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.279 2<00:17:22.859><c> verse</c><00:17:23.079><c> 10</c><00:17:23.319><c> where</c><00:17:23.480><c> it</c><00:17:23.559><c> talks</c><00:17:23.799><c> about</c><00:17:24.000><c> the</c> 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:27.819 ten<00:17:24.480><c> days</c><00:17:25.039><c> of</c><00:17:25.940><c> tribulation.</c><00:17:26.440><c> It</c><00:17:26.460><c> was</c><00:17:26.640><c> actually</c><00:17:27.000><c> ten</c><00:17:27.259><c> years</c><00:17:27.579><c> of</c> 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:31.900 tribulation<00:17:29.920><c> or</c><00:17:30.119><c> persecution</c><00:17:30.680><c> under</c><00:17:30.980><c> Trajan.</c> 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:36.259 Again,<00:17:32.599><c> we</c><00:17:32.779><c> move</c><00:17:32.980><c> forward</c><00:17:33.259><c> to</c><00:17:33.460><c> the</c><00:17:33.599><c> time</c><00:17:33.819><c> of</c><00:17:33.980><c> the</c><00:17:34.140><c> emperor</c><00:17:34.440><c> Decius</c><00:17:35.920><c> and</c> 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:38.259 this<00:17:36.480><c> is</c><00:17:36.740><c> a</c><00:17:37.420><c> time</c><00:17:37.579><c> where</c><00:17:37.740><c> there's</c><00:17:37.940><c> another</c> 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:43.079 sort<00:17:38.500><c> of</c><00:17:38.720><c> general</c><00:17:39.220><c> persecution</c><00:17:40.000><c> of</c><00:17:40.319><c> Christians.</c><00:17:41.539><c> He</c><00:17:41.759><c> demanded,</c><00:17:42.220><c> like</c><00:17:42.440><c> Trajan,</c><00:17:43.079><c> he</c> 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.539 demanded<00:17:43.839><c> religious</c> 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:49.099 loyalty<00:17:45.279><c> as</c><00:17:45.980><c> a</c><00:17:46.140><c> means</c><00:17:46.359><c> of</c><00:17:46.839><c> unifying</c><00:17:47.299><c> the</c><00:17:47.539><c> empire.</c><00:17:47.900><c> He</c><00:17:48.039><c> saw</c><00:17:48.259><c> this</c><00:17:48.519><c> as</c> 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:51.220 a<00:17:49.279><c> way</c><00:17:49.420><c> to</c><00:17:49.680><c> bring</c><00:17:49.839><c> all</c><00:17:50.039><c> these</c><00:17:50.319><c> disparate</c> 00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:54.619 nations<00:17:51.720><c> and</c><00:17:52.099><c> groups</c><00:17:52.420><c> together.</c><00:17:53.759><c> They</c><00:17:53.880><c> would</c><00:17:54.059><c> all</c><00:17:54.259><c> have</c><00:17:54.380><c> a</c> 00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:58.500 common<00:17:54.819><c> religion</c><00:17:55.339><c> and</c><00:17:56.299><c> worship</c><00:17:56.740><c> the</c><00:17:57.000><c> same</c><00:17:57.259><c> gods</c><00:17:57.779><c> and</c> 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:01.680 so<00:17:58.720><c> he</c><00:17:58.940><c> ordered</c><00:17:59.160><c> all</c><00:17:59.579><c> his</c><00:17:59.839><c> subjects</c><00:18:00.240><c> to</c><00:18:00.539><c> sacrifice</c><00:18:01.180><c> to</c><00:18:01.420><c> the</c> 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:06.099 state<00:18:01.980><c> gods.</c><00:18:04.160><c> And</c><00:18:04.299><c> Christianity</c><00:18:04.779><c> was</c><00:18:05.339><c> seen</c><00:18:05.619><c> much</c><00:18:05.859><c> like</c> 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:08.720 at<00:18:06.240><c> the</c><00:18:06.339><c> time</c><00:18:06.500><c> of</c><00:18:06.680><c> Trajan.</c><00:18:06.960><c> It</c><00:18:07.000><c> was</c><00:18:07.180><c> seen</c><00:18:07.420><c> as</c><00:18:07.619><c> a</c><00:18:07.859><c> widespread</c><00:18:08.299><c> and</c><00:18:08.579><c> a</c> 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.740 serious<00:18:09.619><c> threat,</c><00:18:10.259><c> a</c><00:18:10.420><c> growing</c><00:18:10.700><c> threat,</c><00:18:11.140><c> in</c><00:18:11.420><c> fact,</c> 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.519 to<00:18:12.339><c> the</c><00:18:12.599><c> state.</c><00:18:14.000><c> And</c><00:18:14.140><c> so,</c><00:18:14.359><c> under</c><00:18:14.480><c> the</c><00:18:14.640><c> time</c><00:18:14.759><c> of</c><00:18:14.920><c> Trajan,</c><00:18:15.200><c> many</c> 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:19.019 were<00:18:16.240><c> executed.</c><00:18:17.680><c> The</c><00:18:17.920><c> historian</c><00:18:18.380><c> friend</c><00:18:18.740><c> writes,</c> 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:21.759 the<00:18:19.240><c> requirement</c><00:18:19.759><c> was</c><00:18:20.119><c> for</c><00:18:20.380><c> all</c><00:18:20.680><c> free</c><00:18:20.880><c> inhabitants</c><00:18:21.359><c> of</c><00:18:21.599><c> the</c> 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.039 empire,<00:18:22.240><c> men,</c><00:18:22.539><c> women,</c><00:18:23.319><c> and</c><00:18:23.539><c> children,</c> 00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:28.299 to<00:18:24.660><c> sacrifice</c><00:18:25.240><c> to</c><00:18:25.460><c> the</c><00:18:25.599><c> gods</c><00:18:25.759><c> of</c><00:18:25.960><c> the</c><00:18:26.099><c> empire.</c><00:18:27.380><c> Poor</c><00:18:27.640><c> libation</c> 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.720 and<00:18:28.559><c> taste</c><00:18:28.779><c> sacrificial</c><00:18:29.440><c> meat,</c> 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:34.980 the<00:18:30.319><c> penalty</c><00:18:30.700><c> for</c><00:18:31.000><c> refusal</c><00:18:31.539><c> was</c><00:18:32.500><c> death.</c><00:18:33.759><c> So,</c><00:18:34.019><c> it's</c><00:18:34.180><c> quite</c><00:18:34.500><c> cut</c> 00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:38.400 and<00:18:35.240><c> dry.</c><00:18:36.440><c> Diocletian,</c><00:18:36.960><c> this</c><00:18:37.140><c> is</c><00:18:37.359><c> known</c><00:18:37.480><c> as</c><00:18:37.660><c> the</c><00:18:37.960><c> great</c> 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.559 persecution<00:18:39.099><c> under</c><00:18:39.460><c> the</c><00:18:40.119><c> emperor</c><00:18:40.640><c> Diocletian</c><00:18:41.799><c> who</c><00:18:42.339><c> reigned</c> 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:46.079 from<00:18:42.819><c> around</c><00:18:43.200><c> 303</c><00:18:43.680><c> to</c><00:18:43.819><c> 312</c><00:18:44.960><c> AD.</c> 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:50.299 Initially,<00:18:47.440><c> he</c><00:18:47.700><c> had</c><00:18:47.960><c> a</c><00:18:48.240><c> policy</c><00:18:48.619><c> of</c><00:18:48.940><c> general</c><00:18:49.359><c> toleration</c><00:18:50.079><c> of</c> 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:53.839 all<00:18:50.559><c> religious</c><00:18:51.299><c> groups,</c><00:18:52.440><c> but</c><00:18:52.619><c> in</c><00:18:52.940><c> 303,</c><00:18:53.420><c> apparently,</c> 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:58.079 he<00:18:54.200><c> ordered</c><00:18:54.680><c> churches</c><00:18:55.400><c> to</c><00:18:55.720><c> be</c><00:18:55.900><c> destroyed,</c><00:18:57.299><c> scriptures</c><00:18:57.579><c> to</c><00:18:57.859><c> be</c> 00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:02.500 confiscated<00:18:58.799><c> and</c><00:18:59.140><c> burnt.</c><00:19:00.460><c> In</c><00:19:00.819><c> 304,</c><00:19:01.420><c> he</c><00:19:01.700><c> ordered</c> 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:06.359 executions<00:19:03.660><c> to</c><00:19:03.960><c> take</c><00:19:04.200><c> place</c><00:19:04.500><c> and</c><00:19:04.660><c> apparently</c><00:19:05.079><c> in</c><00:19:05.259><c> the</c><00:19:05.440><c> west,</c> 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:09.680 his<00:19:07.579><c> regional</c><00:19:08.000><c> governors</c><00:19:08.440><c> were</c><00:19:08.740><c> a</c><00:19:08.799><c> bit</c><00:19:09.019><c> lax</c><00:19:09.420><c> in</c> 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.980 terms<00:19:09.980><c> of</c><00:19:10.259><c> implementing</c><00:19:10.559><c> that</c><00:19:10.799><c> policy.</c><00:19:11.259><c> But</c><00:19:11.380><c> in</c><00:19:11.559><c> the</c><00:19:11.759><c> east,</c> 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:15.119 apparently,<00:19:12.559><c> it</c><00:19:12.619><c> was</c><00:19:13.460><c> fiercely</c><00:19:14.039><c> implemented</c> 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:19.819 and<00:19:15.599><c> many</c><00:19:16.019><c> so</c><00:19:16.980><c>-called</c><00:19:17.200><c> Christians</c><00:19:17.680><c> were</c><00:19:17.920><c> put</c><00:19:18.140><c> to</c><00:19:18.359><c> death.</c><00:19:19.579><c> Much</c> 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:22.019 like<00:19:20.039><c> at</c><00:19:20.160><c> the</c><00:19:20.299><c> time</c><00:19:20.460><c> in</c><00:19:20.640><c> Nero,</c><00:19:21.019><c> the</c><00:19:21.180><c> bloodshed</c> 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:27.799 and<00:19:22.319><c> the</c><00:19:22.619><c> extent</c><00:19:22.799><c> of</c><00:19:23.720><c> the</c><00:19:24.299><c> executions</c><00:19:25.099><c> had</c><00:19:25.519><c> sickened</c><00:19:26.000><c> the</c><00:19:26.180><c> populace</c><00:19:27.220><c> and</c> 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:29.839 there<00:19:28.180><c> was</c><00:19:28.380><c> no</c><00:19:28.579><c> real</c><00:19:28.940><c> sympathy</c><00:19:29.359><c> with</c><00:19:29.640><c> the</c> 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.940 emperor's<00:19:30.240><c> position.</c><00:19:30.619><c> In</c><00:19:30.700><c> fact,</c><00:19:31.000><c> the</c><00:19:31.160><c> sympathy</c><00:19:31.500><c> seemed</c><00:19:31.779><c> to</c> 00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:37.000 be<00:19:32.059><c> with</c><00:19:32.880><c> the</c><00:19:33.140><c> Christians.</c><00:19:35.140><c> And</c><00:19:35.420><c> the</c><00:19:36.059><c> writer</c><00:19:36.359><c> Eusebius,</c> 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.720 who<00:19:37.140><c> was</c><00:19:37.359><c> actually</c><00:19:37.680><c> contemporary</c><00:19:38.240><c> with</c><00:19:38.579><c> the</c><00:19:38.740><c> emperor</c><00:19:38.980><c> Constantine,</c><00:19:40.019><c> you</c><00:19:40.180><c> could</c><00:19:40.420><c> think</c><00:19:40.619><c> of</c> 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:42.019 him<00:19:40.940><c> as</c><00:19:41.180><c> Constantine's</c> 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:47.200 biographer,<00:19:43.720><c> wrote</c><00:19:43.900><c> this</c><00:19:44.299><c> about</c><00:19:44.700><c> the</c><00:19:45.579><c> persecution</c><00:19:46.119><c> under</c><00:19:46.440><c> Diocletian.</c><00:19:47.200><c> He</c> 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:49.200 says,<00:19:48.519><c> imperial</c><00:19:48.519><c> edicts</c><00:19:49.019><c> were</c> 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.559 published<00:19:49.619><c> everywhere</c><00:19:50.559><c> ordering</c><00:19:51.099><c> that</c><00:19:51.319><c> the</c><00:19:51.519><c> churches</c><00:19:51.759><c> be</c><00:19:52.059><c> razed</c><00:19:52.420><c> to</c> 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.940 the<00:19:52.740><c> ground,</c><00:19:53.000><c> that</c><00:19:53.099><c> the</c><00:19:53.319><c> scriptures</c><00:19:53.619><c> be</c> 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:58.180 destroyed<00:19:54.319><c> by</c><00:19:54.660><c> fire,</c><00:19:55.720><c> that</c><00:19:55.859><c> those</c><00:19:56.119><c> holding</c><00:19:56.420><c> office</c><00:19:56.759><c> be</c><00:19:57.000><c> deposed</c><00:19:57.880><c> and</c> 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:00.079 they<00:19:58.400><c> of</c><00:19:58.500><c> the</c><00:19:58.700><c> household</c><00:19:59.000><c> be</c><00:19:59.259><c> deprived</c><00:19:59.720><c> of</c> 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:06.140 freedom<00:20:00.299><c> if</c><00:20:00.480><c> they</c><00:20:00.799><c> persisted</c><00:20:01.759><c> in</c><00:20:01.940><c> the</c><00:20:02.940><c> profession</c><00:20:03.339><c> of</c><00:20:03.640><c> Christianity.</c><00:20:05.859><c> So</c> 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.859 it's<00:20:06.359><c> clear</c><00:20:06.599><c> that</c><00:20:06.920><c> this</c><00:20:07.359><c> restraining</c> 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:13.059 power<00:20:08.200><c> that</c><00:20:08.380><c> we</c><00:20:08.599><c> spoke</c><00:20:08.839><c> about</c><00:20:09.079><c> a</c><00:20:09.220><c> moment</c><00:20:09.420><c> ago</c><00:20:09.960><c> was</c><00:20:11.140><c> not</c><00:20:11.579><c> prepared</c><00:20:12.039><c> to</c><00:20:12.339><c> allow</c><00:20:12.599><c> any</c> 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:14.619 kind<00:20:13.220><c> of</c><00:20:13.420><c> rival</c><00:20:13.720><c> system</c><00:20:14.200><c> to</c> 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:19.599 develop.<00:20:15.579><c> We've</c><00:20:15.819><c> seen</c><00:20:16.099><c> in</c><00:20:16.319><c> the</c><00:20:16.359><c> case</c><00:20:16.680><c> of</c><00:20:16.880><c> Nero,</c><00:20:18.960><c> in</c><00:20:19.079><c> Trajan,</c> 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:22.380 Decius,<00:20:20.480><c> Diocletian,</c><00:20:21.599><c> none</c><00:20:21.779><c> of</c><00:20:22.000><c> them</c><00:20:22.119><c> were</c> 00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:28.039 prepared<00:20:22.700><c> to</c><00:20:22.980><c> allow</c><00:20:23.180><c> this</c><00:20:23.519><c> rival</c><00:20:23.880><c> system,</c><00:20:25.119><c> this</c><00:20:25.380><c> wave</c><00:20:25.680><c> of</c><00:20:26.440><c> Christian</c><00:20:26.940><c> popularity</c><00:20:27.640><c> to</c> 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:30.059 develop.<00:20:29.099><c> Their</c><00:20:29.519><c> objective</c> 00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:34.279 was<00:20:30.339><c> to</c><00:20:30.740><c> stamp</c><00:20:30.940><c> it</c><00:20:31.160><c> out</c><00:20:31.279><c> and</c><00:20:31.440><c> so</c><00:20:31.700><c> in</c><00:20:31.940><c> doing</c><00:20:32.180><c> so,</c><00:20:32.519><c> they</c><00:20:32.579><c> were</c><00:20:32.900><c> preventing</c><00:20:33.519><c> the</c> 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:36.660 emergence<00:20:34.680><c> of</c><00:20:34.980><c> the</c><00:20:35.200><c> man</c><00:20:35.400><c> of</c><00:20:35.720><c> sin</c><00:20:35.960><c> that</c> 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:40.680 the<00:20:36.880><c> apostle</c><00:20:37.220><c> Paul</c><00:20:37.599><c> wrote</c><00:20:38.079><c> to</c><00:20:38.599><c> the</c><00:20:39.279><c> Thessalonians</c><00:20:39.920><c> about.</c> 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:43.720 And<00:20:41.140><c> the</c><00:20:41.180><c> question</c><00:20:41.460><c> is,</c><00:20:41.700><c> when</c><00:20:41.940><c> did</c><00:20:42.160><c> this</c><00:20:42.299><c> all</c><00:20:42.559><c> change?</c> 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:47.660 When<00:20:44.319><c> did</c><00:20:44.700><c> this</c><00:20:45.200><c> restraining</c><00:20:45.779><c> power</c><00:20:46.339><c> come</c><00:20:46.960><c> to</c><00:20:47.180><c> an</c><00:20:47.319><c> end?</c><00:20:47.500><c> When</c> 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:50.140 was<00:20:47.880><c> it</c><00:20:48.059><c> taken</c><00:20:48.259><c> out</c><00:20:48.440><c> of</c><00:20:48.539><c> the</c><00:20:48.680><c> way</c><00:20:49.160><c> so</c><00:20:49.460><c> that</c><00:20:49.920><c> the</c> 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:52.980 man<00:20:50.259><c> of</c><00:20:50.519><c> sin</c><00:20:50.660><c> would</c><00:20:50.900><c> emerge?</c><00:20:51.680><c> And</c><00:20:51.859><c> there's</c><00:20:52.059><c> only</c><00:20:52.259><c> really</c><00:20:52.660><c> one</c> 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:56.680 period<00:20:53.240><c> of</c><00:20:53.599><c> history</c><00:20:54.059><c> where</c><00:20:54.500><c> that</c><00:20:54.799><c> could</c><00:20:55.119><c> be</c><00:20:56.539><c> said</c> 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:59.880 to<00:20:56.900><c> be</c><00:20:57.059><c> fulfilled</c><00:20:57.519><c> and</c><00:20:58.420><c> we're</c><00:20:58.599><c> going</c><00:20:58.680><c> to</c><00:20:58.700><c> look</c><00:20:58.900><c> at</c><00:20:59.000><c> that</c><00:20:59.279><c> shortly</c><00:20:59.599><c> in</c><00:20:59.740><c> a</c> 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:02.319 moment.<00:21:00.500><c> All</c><00:21:00.779><c> the</c><00:21:01.019><c> while,</c><00:21:01.779><c> while</c><00:21:02.059><c> this</c> 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.460 persecution<00:21:02.859><c> is</c><00:21:03.079><c> taking</c><00:21:03.339><c> place,</c><00:21:04.140><c> the</c><00:21:04.359><c> other</c><00:21:04.559><c> issue</c><00:21:04.920><c> is</c><00:21:05.500><c> happening.</c><00:21:06.240><c> That</c> 00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.640 is<00:21:06.799><c> the</c><00:21:06.900><c> issue</c><00:21:07.140><c> of</c><00:21:07.420><c> false</c><00:21:07.700><c> teaching.</c> 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:12.240 So<00:21:09.079><c> we're</c><00:21:09.220><c> in</c><00:21:09.339><c> the</c><00:21:09.559><c> second</c><00:21:09.799><c> century</c><00:21:10.220><c> now</c><00:21:10.779><c> and</c><00:21:11.579><c> there</c><00:21:11.740><c> are</c><00:21:11.880><c> many</c> 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.440 false<00:21:12.819><c> teachers</c><00:21:13.380><c> that</c><00:21:13.980><c> are</c><00:21:14.180><c> now</c><00:21:14.480><c> referred</c><00:21:14.799><c> to</c><00:21:15.079><c> by</c> 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.400 the<00:21:15.940><c> churches</c><00:21:16.420><c> as</c><00:21:17.200><c> the</c><00:21:17.480><c> Christian</c><00:21:17.880><c> or</c><00:21:18.099><c> the</c><00:21:18.420><c> church</c><00:21:18.900><c> fathers.</c> 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:21.579 So<00:21:20.140><c> you've</c><00:21:20.380><c> heard</c><00:21:20.500><c> of</c><00:21:20.720><c> writers</c><00:21:21.039><c> such</c><00:21:21.339><c> as</c> 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:25.359 Iranius<00:21:22.119><c> and</c><00:21:22.319><c> Tertullian</c><00:21:22.900><c> and</c><00:21:23.140><c> Justin</c><00:21:23.519><c> Martyr.</c><00:21:24.559><c> Another</c><00:21:24.900><c> two</c> 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.839 church<00:21:25.880><c> fathers,</c><00:21:27.319><c> possibly</c><00:21:27.759><c> more</c><00:21:28.259><c> significant,</c> 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:31.339 more<00:21:29.319><c> influential</c><00:21:29.960><c> than</c><00:21:30.220><c> the</c><00:21:30.359><c> ones</c><00:21:30.480><c> I've</c><00:21:30.660><c> already</c><00:21:30.900><c> mentioned</c> 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:35.000 are<00:21:32.099><c> Clement</c><00:21:32.500><c> and</c><00:21:33.140><c> Origen.</c><00:21:34.299><c> Clement</c><00:21:34.759><c> and</c> 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:42.920 Origen<00:21:35.339><c> who</c><00:21:35.640><c> lived</c><00:21:36.160><c> in</c><00:21:36.720><c> and</c><00:21:36.859><c> around</c><00:21:36.980><c> the</c><00:21:37.259><c> second</c><00:21:37.619><c> and</c><00:21:37.839><c> third</c><00:21:38.140><c> century.</c><00:21:40.420><c> And</c><00:21:40.640><c> evidently,</c><00:21:41.200><c> there</c><00:21:41.420><c> was</c><00:21:41.839><c> a</c> 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:48.559 very<00:21:43.240><c> extensive</c><00:21:43.900><c> library</c><00:21:44.539><c> in</c><00:21:44.940><c> Alexandria</c><00:21:45.559><c> of</c><00:21:45.980><c> Greek</c><00:21:46.279><c> philosophical</c><00:21:47.059><c> writings.</c><00:21:48.000><c> There</c><00:21:48.059><c> was</c><00:21:48.279><c> a</c> 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:48.960 school<00:21:48.720><c> there</c> 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:54.680 or<00:21:49.119><c> a</c><00:21:49.180><c> university</c><00:21:49.900><c> and</c><00:21:51.140><c> many</c><00:21:51.819><c> people</c><00:21:52.339><c> were</c><00:21:52.700><c> schooled</c><00:21:53.539><c> in</c><00:21:53.980><c> the</c> 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:56.920 philosophical<00:21:55.299><c> thought</c><00:21:55.720><c> of</c><00:21:55.940><c> the</c><00:21:56.119><c> Greeks.</c> 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:03.920 Clement<00:21:57.839><c> took</c><00:21:58.200><c> it</c><00:21:58.380><c> upon</c><00:21:58.559><c> himself</c><00:21:59.079><c> to</c><00:21:59.460><c> meld</c><00:22:00.180><c> what</c><00:22:00.440><c> he</c><00:22:00.640><c> had</c><00:22:00.839><c> learned</c><00:22:01.200><c> about</c><00:22:02.440><c> Greek</c><00:22:02.880><c> philosophy</c><00:22:03.539><c> with</c> 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.799 his<00:22:04.240><c> understanding</c> 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.880 of<00:22:05.880><c> Christianity</c><00:22:06.519><c> and</c><00:22:07.299><c> tried</c><00:22:07.539><c> to</c><00:22:07.839><c> merge</c><00:22:08.079><c> the</c><00:22:08.319><c> two</c><00:22:08.480><c> together.</c> 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.839 And<00:22:09.160><c> the</c><00:22:09.539><c> historian</c><00:22:09.880><c> Bevan</c><00:22:10.259><c> writes</c><00:22:10.599><c> the</c> 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:14.660 following<00:22:11.119><c> about</c><00:22:11.400><c> Clement.</c><00:22:12.839><c> Clement</c><00:22:13.180><c> held</c><00:22:13.460><c> that</c><00:22:13.720><c> large</c><00:22:14.019><c> elements</c><00:22:14.400><c> of</c> 00:22:14.660 --> 00:22:16.500 Greek<00:22:14.960><c> philosophic</c><00:22:15.660><c> thought</c><00:22:15.859><c> were</c><00:22:16.119><c> true</c> 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:19.240 and<00:22:16.880><c> that</c><00:22:17.039><c> a</c><00:22:17.220><c> Christian</c><00:22:17.480><c> who</c><00:22:17.839><c> combined</c><00:22:18.200><c> them</c><00:22:18.480><c> with</c><00:22:18.680><c> his</c><00:22:19.000><c> faith</c> 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:22.779 was<00:22:19.680><c> a</c><00:22:19.880><c> more</c><00:22:20.200><c> perfect,</c><00:22:21.039><c> well</c><00:22:21.359><c>-equipped</c><00:22:21.700><c> Christian</c> 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:27.220 than<00:22:23.259><c> an</c><00:22:23.779><c> uneducated</c><00:22:24.559><c> one</c><00:22:25.039><c> who</c><00:22:25.319><c> had</c><00:22:25.480><c> his</c><00:22:25.819><c> faith</c><00:22:26.039><c> only</c><00:22:26.500><c> and</c><00:22:27.099><c> the</c> 00:22:27.220 --> 00:22:29.599 more<00:22:27.539><c> perfect</c><00:22:27.839><c> Christian</c><00:22:28.359><c> he</c><00:22:28.880><c> did</c><00:22:29.099><c> not</c><00:22:29.359><c> shrink</c> 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:33.259 from<00:22:29.900><c> calling</c><00:22:30.180><c> a</c><00:22:30.500><c> Gnostic.</c><00:22:31.259><c> He</c><00:22:31.480><c> loved</c><00:22:31.859><c> his</c><00:22:32.259><c> Plato</c><00:22:32.500><c> as</c><00:22:32.880><c> well</c><00:22:33.099><c> as</c> 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:36.019 his<00:22:33.420><c> New</c><00:22:33.619><c> Testament</c><00:22:34.099><c> and</c><00:22:34.740><c> declared</c><00:22:35.140><c> that</c><00:22:35.539><c> for</c><00:22:35.779><c> the</c> 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:40.180 Greeks,<00:22:36.740><c> philosophy</c><00:22:37.440><c> had</c><00:22:37.700><c> been</c><00:22:37.940><c> the</c><00:22:38.220><c> tutor</c><00:22:38.460><c> leading</c><00:22:38.859><c> to</c><00:22:39.220><c> Christ</c><00:22:39.579><c> as</c> 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:42.279 Paul<00:22:40.519><c> said</c><00:22:40.779><c> that</c><00:22:40.980><c> the</c><00:22:41.140><c> law</c><00:22:41.359><c> had</c><00:22:41.579><c> been</c><00:22:41.819><c> for</c><00:22:42.039><c> the</c> 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:46.380 Jews.<00:22:43.440><c> Now</c><00:22:43.839><c> we</c><00:22:43.960><c> find</c><00:22:44.220><c> that</c><00:22:44.460><c> very</c><00:22:44.740><c> disturbing,</c><00:22:45.660><c> the</c><00:22:45.960><c> fact</c><00:22:46.160><c> that</c> 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:48.220 somebody<00:22:46.660><c> would</c><00:22:46.920><c> make</c><00:22:47.099><c> these</c><00:22:47.440><c> kinds</c><00:22:47.619><c> of</c><00:22:47.880><c> claims</c> 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:55.160 and<00:22:48.779><c> set</c><00:22:49.099><c> about</c><00:22:49.400><c> to</c><00:22:49.660><c> bring</c><00:22:49.859><c> the</c><00:22:50.099><c> two</c><00:22:50.299><c> together</c><00:22:50.880><c> and</c><00:22:51.420><c> yet</c><00:22:51.579><c> he</c><00:22:51.779><c> was</c><00:22:52.259><c> incredibly</c><00:22:52.880><c> influential</c><00:22:53.539><c> and</c><00:22:54.660><c> held</c><00:22:54.960><c> a</c> 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:55.559 lot<00:22:55.299><c> of</c> 00:22:55.559 --> 00:23:00.279 sway<00:22:56.180><c> amongst</c><00:22:57.339><c> the</c><00:22:57.720><c> so</c><00:22:57.980><c>-called</c><00:22:58.180><c> Christian</c><00:22:58.779><c> churches</c><00:22:59.440><c> at</c><00:23:00.099><c> the</c> 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:03.779 time.<00:23:01.859><c> Now</c><00:23:02.039><c> I</c><00:23:02.180><c> mentioned</c><00:23:02.579><c> Origen,</c><00:23:03.140><c> he's</c><00:23:03.480><c> another</c> 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:10.920 one<00:23:04.000><c> of</c><00:23:04.099><c> these</c><00:23:04.359><c> significant</c><00:23:05.019><c> and</c><00:23:05.440><c> influential</c><00:23:06.180><c> false</c><00:23:06.880><c> teachers</c><00:23:07.539><c> and</c><00:23:09.200><c> the</c><00:23:09.720><c> writer</c><00:23:09.900><c> Bevan</c><00:23:10.220><c> goes</c><00:23:10.500><c> on</c> 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:12.460 to<00:23:11.720><c> explain</c> 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:16.359 Origen<00:23:13.400><c> who</c><00:23:13.779><c> actually</c><00:23:14.420><c> was</c><00:23:14.660><c> more</c><00:23:15.160><c> influential</c><00:23:15.720><c> than</c><00:23:15.980><c> even</c> 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:18.900 Clement<00:23:16.619><c> was.</c><00:23:17.059><c> Origen</c><00:23:17.740><c> was</c><00:23:18.140><c> the</c><00:23:18.460><c> principal</c> 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:24.039 molder<00:23:19.380><c> of</c><00:23:19.680><c> thought</c><00:23:19.880><c> all</c><00:23:20.240><c> over</c><00:23:20.420><c> the</c><00:23:20.579><c> Christian</c><00:23:20.900><c> world</c><00:23:21.519><c> in</c><00:23:22.200><c> succeeding</c><00:23:22.640><c> generations.</c><00:23:23.859><c> He</c> 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.619 believed<00:23:24.319><c> in</c><00:23:24.660><c> reincarnation,</c> 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:30.599 he<00:23:26.079><c> held</c><00:23:26.220><c> that</c><00:23:26.460><c> all</c><00:23:26.819><c> souls,</c><00:23:27.519><c> angels,</c><00:23:27.819><c> men</c><00:23:28.059><c> and</c><00:23:28.259><c> devils</c><00:23:28.920><c> had</c><00:23:29.200><c> originally</c><00:23:29.759><c> existed</c><00:23:30.359><c> in</c> 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.799 a<00:23:30.819><c> state</c><00:23:30.940><c> of</c><00:23:31.380><c> absolute</c> 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:36.740 equality<00:23:32.400><c> in</c><00:23:32.660><c> heaven</c><00:23:32.920><c> from</c><00:23:33.619><c> the</c><00:23:33.940><c> state</c><00:23:34.099><c> they</c><00:23:34.279><c> had</c><00:23:34.619><c> fallen</c><00:23:35.079><c> individually</c><00:23:36.420><c> to</c> 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:39.000 different<00:23:37.019><c> levels.</c><00:23:37.900><c> Of</c><00:23:38.240><c> course</c><00:23:38.519><c> in</c><00:23:38.759><c> his</c> 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:42.059 Luminous<00:23:39.519><c> works</c><00:23:39.819><c> there</c><00:23:40.019><c> was</c><00:23:40.200><c> a</c><00:23:40.359><c> great</c><00:23:40.519><c> deal</c><00:23:40.759><c> which</c><00:23:41.039><c> subsequent</c><00:23:41.579><c> Christian</c> 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:43.819 teachers<00:23:42.500><c> felt</c><00:23:42.880><c> they</c><00:23:43.420><c> could</c> 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:48.319 appropriate<00:23:44.720><c> so</c><00:23:45.940><c> that</c><00:23:46.160><c> the</c><00:23:46.440><c> actual</c><00:23:46.900><c> influence</c><00:23:47.420><c> of</c><00:23:47.779><c> Origen</c><00:23:48.079><c> in</c> 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:51.640 the<00:23:48.559><c> shaping</c><00:23:48.819><c> of</c><00:23:49.119><c> Christian</c><00:23:49.599><c> theology</c><00:23:50.200><c> was</c><00:23:50.619><c> immense.</c> 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:55.319 So<00:23:52.319><c> again</c><00:23:52.500><c> we</c><00:23:52.819><c> read</c><00:23:53.039><c> this</c><00:23:53.319><c> and</c><00:23:53.599><c> we</c><00:23:53.880><c> shudder</c><00:23:54.380><c> at</c><00:23:54.640><c> the</c><00:23:54.839><c> kinds</c><00:23:55.019><c> of</c> 00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:59.559 ideas<00:23:55.579><c> and</c><00:23:55.920><c> concepts</c><00:23:56.579><c> that</c><00:23:57.619><c> Origen</c><00:23:58.119><c> was</c><00:23:59.039><c> espousing</c> 00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:03.799 and<00:24:00.000><c> teaching</c><00:24:00.440><c> and</c><00:24:01.099><c> yet</c><00:24:01.319><c> he</c><00:24:01.539><c> was</c><00:24:02.039><c> incredibly</c><00:24:02.640><c> influential</c><00:24:03.220><c> and</c><00:24:03.440><c> had</c><00:24:03.539><c> a</c> 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.339 huge<00:24:04.019><c> impact</c><00:24:04.539><c> on</c><00:24:05.299><c> Christian</c><00:24:05.759><c> thought</c><00:24:06.259><c> in</c> 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:11.839 subsequent<00:24:07.819><c> years.</c><00:24:09.960><c> Well</c><00:24:10.099><c> I</c><00:24:10.200><c> mentioned</c><00:24:10.559><c> there's</c><00:24:11.299><c> one</c><00:24:11.579><c> time</c> 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.940 in<00:24:12.059><c> history</c><00:24:12.619><c> where</c><00:24:13.119><c> it</c><00:24:13.259><c> could</c><00:24:13.400><c> be</c><00:24:13.660><c> said</c><00:24:13.900><c> that</c><00:24:14.160><c> the</c> 00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:17.940 restraining<00:24:15.500><c> power</c><00:24:15.799><c> was</c><00:24:16.160><c> taken</c><00:24:16.460><c> out</c><00:24:16.619><c> of</c><00:24:16.740><c> the</c><00:24:16.880><c> way</c><00:24:17.099><c> to</c><00:24:17.440><c> open</c><00:24:17.720><c> up</c> 00:24:17.940 --> 00:24:20.140 the<00:24:18.099><c> opportunity</c><00:24:18.599><c> for</c><00:24:18.839><c> the</c><00:24:19.019><c> man</c><00:24:19.160><c> of</c><00:24:19.420><c> sin</c><00:24:19.559><c> to</c><00:24:19.839><c> develop</c> 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:24.279 and<00:24:20.680><c> it's</c><00:24:20.859><c> at</c><00:24:20.960><c> the</c><00:24:21.160><c> time</c><00:24:21.319><c> of</c><00:24:21.740><c> Constantine.</c><00:24:23.019><c> This</c><00:24:23.319><c> is</c><00:24:23.519><c> a</c><00:24:23.779><c> huge</c> 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:27.819 transitionary<00:24:25.880><c> period,</c><00:24:26.440><c> it's</c><00:24:27.099><c> monumental,</c> 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:33.400 has<00:24:28.220><c> profound</c><00:24:29.359><c> influence</c><00:24:30.720><c> and</c><00:24:31.000><c> impact</c><00:24:31.380><c> on</c><00:24:31.799><c> the</c><00:24:32.920><c> development</c> 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:36.480 of<00:24:34.259><c> Christianity</c><00:24:34.839><c> in</c><00:24:35.279><c> subsequent</c><00:24:35.819><c> years</c> 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:41.460 and<00:24:37.380><c> so</c><00:24:38.259><c> this</c><00:24:38.440><c> is</c><00:24:38.599><c> a</c><00:24:38.700><c> very</c><00:24:39.059><c> significant</c><00:24:39.640><c> and</c><00:24:40.059><c> important</c><00:24:40.779><c> period.</c><00:24:41.319><c> This</c> 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:44.559 is<00:24:42.440><c> the</c><00:24:42.640><c> time</c><00:24:42.859><c> when</c><00:24:43.140><c> God</c><00:24:43.579><c> uses</c> 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:49.000 the<00:24:45.559><c> emperor</c><00:24:45.960><c> Constantine</c><00:24:46.700><c> to</c><00:24:47.220><c> overthrow</c><00:24:47.859><c> paganism</c><00:24:48.700><c> in</c><00:24:48.859><c> the</c> 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.839 Roman<00:24:49.220><c> Empire.</c><00:24:49.599><c> Until</c><00:24:49.819><c> now</c><00:24:50.299><c> the</c><00:24:50.700><c> empire's</c><00:24:51.440><c> official</c> 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:58.380 religion<00:24:52.339><c> was</c><00:24:53.019><c> paganism</c><00:24:53.759><c> and</c><00:24:54.660><c> God</c><00:24:54.920><c> now</c><00:24:55.160><c> is</c><00:24:55.319><c> going</c><00:24:55.480><c> to</c><00:24:55.740><c> turn</c><00:24:55.880><c> that</c><00:24:56.359><c> upside</c><00:24:56.779><c> down.</c><00:24:57.720><c> He's</c><00:24:57.980><c> going</c><00:24:58.099><c> to</c> 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.920 sweep<00:24:58.579><c> that</c> 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:02.660 out<00:24:59.039><c> of</c><00:24:59.160><c> the</c><00:24:59.240><c> way</c><00:24:59.339><c> and</c><00:24:59.420><c> it's</c><00:24:59.599><c> not</c><00:24:59.799><c> actually</c><00:25:00.380><c> a</c><00:25:00.900><c> single</c><00:25:01.299><c> act,</c><00:25:02.059><c> it's</c><00:25:02.259><c> more</c><00:25:02.460><c> of</c> 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:04.539 a<00:25:02.759><c> process</c><00:25:03.160><c> and</c><00:25:03.559><c> Constantine's</c><00:25:04.220><c> the</c><00:25:04.339><c> one</c> 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:09.259 who<00:25:04.799><c> kicks</c><00:25:05.000><c> off</c><00:25:05.660><c> that</c><00:25:06.119><c> process</c><00:25:06.619><c> and</c><00:25:07.099><c> starts</c><00:25:07.299><c> it.</c><00:25:08.359><c> So</c><00:25:08.579><c> the</c> 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:11.700 modern<00:25:09.720><c> historian</c><00:25:10.480><c> Michael</c><00:25:10.859><c> Grant</c><00:25:11.180><c> writes,</c> 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:14.960 Constantine<00:25:12.779><c> is</c><00:25:13.000><c> of</c><00:25:13.160><c> course</c><00:25:13.359><c> the</c><00:25:13.660><c> best</c><00:25:13.920><c> known</c><00:25:14.200><c> as</c><00:25:14.400><c> the</c><00:25:14.680><c> first</c> 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:17.460 Christian<00:25:15.460><c> emperor</c><00:25:15.859><c> and</c><00:25:16.519><c> it</c><00:25:16.700><c> is</c><00:25:16.980><c> predominantly</c> 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:22.119 for<00:25:17.700><c> his</c><00:25:18.099><c> conversion</c><00:25:19.019><c> of</c><00:25:19.319><c> the</c><00:25:19.480><c> Roman</c><00:25:19.720><c> imperial</c><00:25:20.180><c> state</c><00:25:20.440><c> to</c><00:25:20.680><c> Christianity</c><00:25:21.220><c> that</c><00:25:21.920><c> he</c> 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:23.779 became<00:25:22.460><c> famous.</c> 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:27.000 Constantine<00:25:24.839><c> then</c><00:25:25.339><c> is</c><00:25:25.740><c> the</c><00:25:25.900><c> one</c><00:25:26.019><c> who</c><00:25:26.119><c> is</c><00:25:26.240><c> going</c><00:25:26.400><c> to</c><00:25:26.599><c> open</c><00:25:26.779><c> up</c> 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.599 the<00:25:27.140><c> way</c><00:25:27.279><c> for</c><00:25:27.500><c> the</c><00:25:27.740><c> development</c><00:25:28.079><c> of</c><00:25:28.299><c> the</c><00:25:28.460><c> man</c><00:25:28.619><c> of</c><00:25:28.900><c> sin.</c> 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:32.859 Well<00:25:30.259><c> the</c><00:25:30.460><c> scriptures</c><00:25:30.819><c> refer</c><00:25:31.299><c> to</c><00:25:31.500><c> this</c><00:25:31.720><c> period</c><00:25:32.079><c> in</c><00:25:32.579><c> a</c><00:25:32.700><c> couple</c> 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:35.619 of<00:25:33.140><c> places</c><00:25:33.559><c> and</c><00:25:34.160><c> we're</c><00:25:34.339><c> going</c><00:25:34.519><c> to</c><00:25:34.720><c> look</c><00:25:34.880><c> at</c><00:25:35.259><c> one</c> 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:43.779 now.<00:25:36.759><c> It's</c><00:25:37.019><c> in</c><00:25:37.200><c> Revelation</c><00:25:37.599><c> chapter</c><00:25:38.079><c> 6</c><00:25:38.420><c> starting</c><00:25:38.720><c> at</c><00:25:38.940><c> verse</c><00:25:39.180><c> 12.</c><00:25:41.799><c> There's</c><00:25:42.319><c> reference</c><00:25:42.720><c> here</c><00:25:43.000><c> to</c><00:25:43.240><c> a</c><00:25:43.519><c> great</c> 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:46.460 earthquake<00:25:44.319><c> and</c><00:25:44.460><c> there's</c><00:25:44.660><c> only</c><00:25:44.960><c> three</c><00:25:45.579><c> great</c><00:25:45.980><c> earthquakes</c> 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:48.279 that<00:25:46.680><c> are</c><00:25:46.880><c> referred</c><00:25:47.140><c> to</c><00:25:47.359><c> in</c><00:25:47.480><c> the</c><00:25:47.599><c> book</c><00:25:47.740><c> of</c><00:25:47.940><c> Revelation,</c> 00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:51.759 this<00:25:48.559><c> being</c><00:25:48.759><c> one</c><00:25:48.960><c> of</c><00:25:49.059><c> them.</c><00:25:49.819><c> The</c><00:25:50.259><c> other</c><00:25:50.579><c> one</c><00:25:50.799><c> is</c><00:25:51.140><c> talking</c><00:25:51.359><c> about</c><00:25:51.559><c> the</c> 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:54.019 French<00:25:52.019><c> Revolution</c><00:25:52.619><c> and</c><00:25:53.180><c> the</c><00:25:53.400><c> last</c><00:25:53.660><c> one's</c> 00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:56.240 talking<00:25:54.220><c> about</c><00:25:54.420><c> the</c><00:25:54.660><c> return</c><00:25:54.900><c> of</c><00:25:55.119><c> Christ</c><00:25:55.440><c> and</c><00:25:55.579><c> the</c><00:25:55.819><c> revolution</c> 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:59.180 that<00:25:56.460><c> he</c><00:25:56.640><c> will</c><00:25:57.720><c> invoke</c><00:25:58.339><c> when</c><00:25:58.579><c> he</c><00:25:58.819><c> comes</c> 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:03.980 to<00:25:59.519><c> change</c><00:25:59.839><c> things.</c><00:26:01.440><c> So</c><00:26:01.519><c> Constantine</c><00:26:02.180><c> is,</c><00:26:02.799><c> the</c><00:26:02.960><c> time</c><00:26:03.099><c> of</c><00:26:03.400><c> Constantine</c><00:26:03.740><c> is</c> 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:06.119 the<00:26:04.240><c> first</c><00:26:04.880><c> great</c><00:26:05.539><c> earthquake,</c> 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:11.779 the<00:26:06.779><c> first</c><00:26:07.079><c> great</c><00:26:07.440><c> revolution</c><00:26:08.059><c> that</c><00:26:08.839><c> calls</c><00:26:09.200><c> for</c><00:26:09.700><c> our</c><00:26:10.099><c> attention</c><00:26:10.559><c> and</c><00:26:11.259><c> here</c><00:26:11.579><c> the</c> 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.940 record<00:26:12.079><c> uses</c><00:26:12.440><c> symbolic</c> 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:17.740 language.<00:26:14.160><c> It</c><00:26:14.720><c> talks</c><00:26:15.039><c> about</c><00:26:15.619><c> the</c><00:26:16.680><c> eclipse</c><00:26:17.019><c> of</c><00:26:17.220><c> the</c><00:26:17.420><c> sun</c><00:26:17.599><c> and</c> 00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:19.660 the<00:26:17.920><c> moon</c><00:26:18.059><c> and</c><00:26:18.220><c> the</c><00:26:18.400><c> overthrow</c><00:26:18.700><c> of</c><00:26:18.900><c> the</c><00:26:19.160><c> stars</c><00:26:19.460><c> and</c> 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:22.099 the<00:26:19.920><c> removal</c><00:26:20.160><c> of</c><00:26:20.440><c> heaven</c><00:26:20.599><c> like</c><00:26:20.839><c> a</c><00:26:21.160><c> scroll</c><00:26:21.339><c> that's</c><00:26:21.720><c> rolled</c><00:26:21.880><c> up.</c> 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.900 All<00:26:22.359><c> of</c><00:26:22.500><c> these</c><00:26:22.680><c> are</c><00:26:22.960><c> symbols</c><00:26:23.299><c> of</c><00:26:23.539><c> course</c> 00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:28.160 of<00:26:24.839><c> political</c><00:26:25.380><c> and</c><00:26:25.720><c> religious</c><00:26:26.079><c> powers</c><00:26:26.519><c> that</c><00:26:26.779><c> are</c><00:26:27.240><c> eclipsed</c> 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:30.900 and<00:26:28.559><c> overthrown</c><00:26:29.619><c> and</c><00:26:30.059><c> it's</c><00:26:30.319><c> exactly</c><00:26:30.680><c> how</c> 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:36.339 God's<00:26:31.640><c> prophets</c><00:26:32.019><c> described</c><00:26:32.799><c> the</c><00:26:33.819><c> end</c><00:26:34.099><c> of</c><00:26:34.259><c> the</c><00:26:34.380><c> Jewish</c><00:26:34.680><c> commonwealth</c><00:26:35.299><c> and</c><00:26:35.539><c> the</c><00:26:35.779><c> end</c><00:26:36.000><c> of</c> 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.279 Jewish<00:26:36.599><c> worship</c><00:26:36.980><c> for</c> 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:40.720 an<00:26:37.539><c> example</c><00:26:37.539><c> in</c><00:26:37.720><c> AD</c><00:26:38.000><c> 70.</c><00:26:39.279><c> For</c><00:26:39.500><c> example</c><00:26:39.779><c> you</c><00:26:39.900><c> can</c><00:26:40.140><c> see</c><00:26:40.299><c> that</c><00:26:40.680><c> in</c> 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.079 Joel<00:26:40.980><c> chapter</c><00:26:41.380><c> 2</c><00:26:41.640><c> and</c><00:26:41.779><c> verse</c><00:26:42.000><c> 31.</c> 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:46.740 It<00:26:43.680><c> also</c><00:26:43.960><c> speaks</c><00:26:44.240><c> of</c><00:26:44.440><c> the</c><00:26:44.680><c> end</c><00:26:44.859><c> of</c><00:26:45.079><c> Gentile</c><00:26:45.680><c> powers</c><00:26:46.099><c> using</c><00:26:46.460><c> the</c> 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:50.759 same<00:26:47.000><c> kinds</c><00:26:47.279><c> of</c><00:26:47.559><c> terms</c><00:26:47.960><c> in</c><00:26:48.619><c> Isaiah</c><00:26:49.039><c> chapter</c><00:26:49.539><c> 34</c><00:26:50.579><c> and</c> 00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:55.500 verse<00:26:51.079><c> 4</c><00:26:51.579><c> and</c><00:26:52.400><c> it's</c><00:26:52.640><c> now</c><00:26:52.940><c> how</c><00:26:53.160><c> the</c><00:26:53.359><c> Apostle</c><00:26:53.759><c> John</c><00:26:54.200><c> is</c><00:26:54.940><c> going</c><00:26:55.119><c> to</c> 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:58.079 describe<00:26:55.819><c> this</c><00:26:56.480><c> tremendous</c><00:26:57.019><c> revolution</c> 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.619 throughout<00:26:58.799><c> the</c><00:26:59.019><c> Roman</c><00:26:59.220><c> Empire.</c><00:27:00.259><c> So</c><00:27:00.599><c> how</c><00:27:00.839><c> do</c><00:27:01.000><c> we</c><00:27:01.240><c> interpret</c> 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.599 these<00:27:01.920><c> symbols?</c><00:27:02.359><c> Here's</c><00:27:02.920><c> one</c><00:27:03.140><c> example,</c> 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.859 one<00:27:03.880><c> sort</c><00:27:04.099><c> of</c><00:27:04.319><c> model</c><00:27:04.519><c> for</c><00:27:04.819><c> interpreting</c><00:27:05.279><c> these</c><00:27:05.640><c> kinds</c><00:27:05.880><c> of</c><00:27:06.099><c> symbols.</c><00:27:07.019><c> It's</c><00:27:07.420><c> found</c><00:27:07.640><c> in</c> 00:27:07.859 --> 00:27:09.420 Genesis<00:27:08.220><c> 1,</c> 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:13.160 talks<00:27:09.960><c> about</c><00:27:10.180><c> the</c><00:27:10.339><c> sun</c><00:27:10.660><c> and</c><00:27:10.960><c> the</c><00:27:11.099><c> moon</c><00:27:11.220><c> and</c><00:27:11.339><c> the</c><00:27:11.559><c> stars</c><00:27:11.740><c> and</c><00:27:11.940><c> heaven</c><00:27:12.299><c> and</c><00:27:12.980><c> it</c> 00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:15.079 says<00:27:13.319><c> there</c><00:27:13.599><c> that</c><00:27:13.880><c> in</c><00:27:13.980><c> verse</c><00:27:14.180><c> 16</c><00:27:14.759><c> that</c> 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:18.160 God<00:27:15.319><c> made</c><00:27:15.619><c> two</c><00:27:15.940><c> great</c><00:27:16.119><c> lights,</c><00:27:17.000><c> the</c><00:27:17.240><c> greater</c><00:27:17.500><c> light</c><00:27:17.759><c> to</c><00:27:17.980><c> rule</c> 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:20.059 the<00:27:18.380><c> day</c><00:27:18.500><c> and</c><00:27:18.640><c> the</c><00:27:18.779><c> lesser</c><00:27:19.019><c> light</c><00:27:19.259><c> to</c><00:27:19.460><c> rule</c><00:27:19.599><c> the</c><00:27:19.819><c> night.</c> 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:24.319 He<00:27:20.440><c> made</c><00:27:20.619><c> the</c><00:27:20.880><c> stars</c><00:27:21.099><c> also</c><00:27:21.660><c> and</c><00:27:22.279><c> God</c><00:27:22.660><c> set</c><00:27:22.880><c> them</c><00:27:23.140><c> in</c><00:27:23.380><c> the</c><00:27:23.539><c> firmament</c><00:27:23.940><c> of</c><00:27:24.119><c> the</c> 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.559 heaven<00:27:24.519><c> to</c><00:27:24.720><c> give</c><00:27:24.880><c> light</c><00:27:25.099><c> upon</c><00:27:25.339><c> the</c> 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:29.339 earth<00:27:25.839><c> and</c><00:27:26.819><c> to</c><00:27:27.119><c> rule</c><00:27:27.380><c> over</c><00:27:27.720><c> the</c><00:27:27.880><c> day</c><00:27:28.019><c> and</c><00:27:28.160><c> over</c><00:27:28.339><c> the</c><00:27:28.480><c> night</c><00:27:28.839><c> to</c> 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:31.660 divide<00:27:29.519><c> the</c><00:27:29.759><c> light</c><00:27:29.900><c> from</c><00:27:30.119><c> darkness</c><00:27:30.640><c> and</c><00:27:30.980><c> God</c><00:27:31.279><c> saw</c><00:27:31.519><c> that</c> 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:35.440 was<00:27:31.839><c> good.</c><00:27:32.920><c> And</c><00:27:33.079><c> so</c><00:27:33.240><c> you'll</c><00:27:33.539><c> notice</c><00:27:33.839><c> there</c><00:27:34.319><c> in</c><00:27:34.500><c> the</c><00:27:34.759><c> highlighting</c><00:27:35.039><c> on</c><00:27:35.240><c> the</c> 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.460 overhead<00:27:35.779><c> these</c><00:27:37.579><c> lights</c><00:27:38.180><c> that</c> 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:43.359 God<00:27:38.700><c> has</c><00:27:38.960><c> provided</c><00:27:39.480><c> were</c><00:27:40.240><c> intended</c><00:27:40.799><c> to</c><00:27:41.299><c> rule.</c><00:27:42.539><c> The</c><00:27:42.759><c> sun</c><00:27:43.019><c> was</c> 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:46.799 ruling<00:27:43.700><c> the</c><00:27:43.940><c> day,</c><00:27:45.220><c> the</c><00:27:45.480><c> lesser</c><00:27:45.779><c> light</c><00:27:46.039><c> the</c><00:27:46.200><c> moon</c><00:27:46.460><c> was</c> 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:53.000 ruling<00:27:47.200><c> the</c><00:27:47.480><c> night</c><00:27:47.839><c> and</c><00:27:49.339><c> they</c><00:27:50.839><c> then</c><00:27:51.119><c> can</c><00:27:51.359><c> be</c><00:27:51.740><c> associated</c><00:27:52.259><c> with</c> 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:56.420 ruling<00:27:53.579><c> powers,</c><00:27:54.359><c> political</c><00:27:54.720><c> religious</c><00:27:55.880><c> ruling</c> 00:27:56.420 --> 00:28:00.119 powers.<00:27:57.299><c> And</c><00:27:57.619><c> so</c><00:27:57.740><c> they</c><00:27:57.880><c> were</c><00:27:58.000><c> very</c><00:27:58.480><c> appropriate</c><00:27:59.000><c> in</c><00:27:59.279><c> describing</c><00:27:59.779><c> this</c> 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:02.319 great<00:28:00.700><c> revolution</c><00:28:01.180><c> that</c><00:28:01.420><c> takes</c><00:28:01.619><c> place</c> 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:07.380 at<00:28:02.599><c> the</c><00:28:02.740><c> time</c><00:28:02.920><c> of</c><00:28:03.279><c> Constantine</c><00:28:03.640><c> when</c><00:28:03.920><c> all</c><00:28:04.279><c> the</c><00:28:05.180><c> ruling</c><00:28:05.480><c> powers,</c><00:28:06.859><c> everyone</c><00:28:07.140><c> who</c> 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:08.859 was<00:28:07.920><c> involved</c><00:28:08.380><c> and</c><00:28:08.680><c> wrapped</c> 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:13.119 up<00:28:09.059><c> in</c><00:28:09.160><c> that</c><00:28:09.400><c> system</c><00:28:09.740><c> of</c><00:28:10.019><c> paganism</c><00:28:10.619><c> who</c><00:28:11.500><c> had</c><00:28:11.700><c> a</c><00:28:11.779><c> vested</c><00:28:12.079><c> interest</c><00:28:12.539><c> in</c><00:28:12.720><c> it</c> 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:15.559 was<00:28:13.579><c> overthrown</c><00:28:14.279><c> and</c><00:28:14.579><c> cast</c><00:28:14.980><c> down</c> 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:21.319 by<00:28:15.940><c> the</c><00:28:16.140><c> work</c><00:28:16.480><c> of</c><00:28:17.079><c> Constantine.</c><00:28:19.519><c> So</c><00:28:19.859><c> we</c><00:28:20.180><c> move</c><00:28:20.420><c> forward,</c><00:28:20.900><c> we</c><00:28:21.059><c> think</c><00:28:21.180><c> of</c> 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:23.519 Brother<00:28:21.559><c> Andrew's</c><00:28:21.980><c> comment</c><00:28:22.319><c> last</c><00:28:22.740><c> night</c> 00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:26.819 when<00:28:23.940><c> he</c><00:28:24.240><c> said</c><00:28:24.420><c> that</c><00:28:24.940><c> what</c><00:28:25.079><c> we</c><00:28:25.339><c> see</c><00:28:25.480><c> is</c><00:28:25.660><c> not</c><00:28:25.880><c> necessarily</c><00:28:26.480><c> what</c> 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:31.220 is<00:28:27.220><c> real</c><00:28:27.619><c> and</c><00:28:29.079><c> Constantine's</c><00:28:29.940><c> revolution</c><00:28:30.400><c> was</c> 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:36.339 almost<00:28:32.059><c> an</c><00:28:32.440><c> optical</c><00:28:33.039><c> illusion.</c><00:28:34.140><c> It</c><00:28:34.339><c> was</c><00:28:35.039><c> smoke</c><00:28:35.359><c> and</c><00:28:35.539><c> mirrors.</c> 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:40.519 It<00:28:37.160><c> was</c><00:28:37.380><c> as</c><00:28:37.740><c> far</c><00:28:38.079><c> from</c><00:28:38.980><c> true</c><00:28:39.660><c> Bible</c><00:28:40.000><c> doctrine</c> 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:45.160 and<00:28:41.039><c> practice</c><00:28:41.599><c> as</c><00:28:42.319><c> it</c><00:28:42.519><c> could</c><00:28:42.700><c> be</c><00:28:43.000><c> and</c><00:28:43.279><c> yet</c><00:28:43.799><c> outwardly</c><00:28:44.400><c> it</c><00:28:44.720><c> looked</c><00:28:44.880><c> like</c> 00:28:45.160 --> 00:28:47.160 it<00:28:45.299><c> was</c><00:28:45.559><c> God's</c><00:28:46.059><c> kingdom</c><00:28:46.299><c> being</c><00:28:46.579><c> established</c> 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:49.559 on<00:28:47.400><c> the</c><00:28:47.539><c> earth</c><00:28:47.680><c> and</c><00:28:47.859><c> the</c><00:28:48.039><c> scriptures</c><00:28:48.339><c> actually</c><00:28:48.940><c> describe</c><00:28:49.380><c> it</c> 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:52.559 that<00:28:49.819><c> way</c><00:28:50.180><c> and</c><00:28:51.180><c> we'll</c><00:28:51.359><c> look</c><00:28:51.559><c> at</c><00:28:51.680><c> that</c><00:28:51.980><c> in</c><00:28:52.119><c> a</c><00:28:52.279><c> minute.</c> 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:56.640 Here<00:28:53.339><c> the</c><00:28:54.059><c> the</c><00:28:54.099><c> historian</c><00:28:54.440><c> H</c><00:28:54.779><c>.H.</c><00:28:55.140><c> Millman</c><00:28:55.680><c> has</c><00:28:56.039><c> the</c><00:28:56.319><c> following</c> 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:58.339 about<00:28:57.059><c> Constantine's</c><00:28:57.900><c> revolution.</c> 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:01.599 The<00:28:58.960><c> reign</c><00:28:59.200><c> of</c><00:28:59.599><c> Constantine</c><00:29:00.000><c> the</c><00:29:00.240><c> Great</c><00:29:00.400><c> forms</c><00:29:00.740><c> one</c><00:29:01.000><c> of</c><00:29:01.200><c> the</c> 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:03.619 epochs<00:29:02.019><c> in</c><00:29:02.180><c> the</c><00:29:02.319><c> history</c><00:29:02.539><c> of</c><00:29:02.720><c> the</c><00:29:02.859><c> world.</c> 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:07.180 It's<00:29:04.099><c> an</c><00:29:04.299><c> era</c><00:29:04.579><c> of</c><00:29:05.240><c> the</c><00:29:05.660><c> dissolution</c><00:29:06.160><c> of</c><00:29:06.339><c> the</c><00:29:06.500><c> Roman</c><00:29:06.700><c> Empire,</c> 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:09.880 the<00:29:07.859><c> commencement</c><00:29:08.299><c> or</c><00:29:08.759><c> rather</c><00:29:09.099><c> consolidation</c> 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:13.839 of<00:29:10.119><c> a</c><00:29:10.259><c> kind</c><00:29:10.460><c> of</c><00:29:10.660><c> eastern</c><00:29:11.019><c> despotism</c><00:29:11.839><c> with</c><00:29:12.359><c> a</c><00:29:12.559><c> new</c><00:29:12.720><c> capital,</c><00:29:13.640><c> a</c> 00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:17.259 new<00:29:14.059><c> patriciate</c><00:29:14.920><c> or</c><00:29:15.240><c> nobility,</c><00:29:16.180><c> a</c><00:29:16.319><c> new</c><00:29:16.519><c> constitution,</c> 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:20.839 a<00:29:17.440><c> new</c><00:29:17.660><c> financial</c><00:29:18.200><c> system,</c><00:29:19.599><c> a</c><00:29:19.599><c> new</c><00:29:19.599><c> though</c><00:29:19.880><c> as</c><00:29:20.079><c> yet</c><00:29:20.299><c> imperfect</c> 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:22.940 jurisprudence<00:29:21.960><c> or</c><00:29:22.180><c> legal</c><00:29:22.480><c> system,</c> 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:27.079 and<00:29:23.579><c> finally</c><00:29:24.000><c> a</c><00:29:24.220><c> new</c><00:29:24.880><c> religion</c><00:29:25.339><c> which</c><00:29:25.680><c> really</c><00:29:26.420><c> endorses</c><00:29:26.920><c> what</c> 00:29:27.079 --> 00:29:29.400 we've<00:29:27.359><c> said</c><00:29:27.579><c> so</c><00:29:27.900><c> far</c><00:29:28.059><c> which</c><00:29:28.279><c> is</c><00:29:28.500><c> that</c><00:29:28.680><c> this</c><00:29:28.880><c> is</c><00:29:29.099><c> a</c> 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:34.440 huge<00:29:30.500><c> revolution.</c><00:29:31.440><c> It's</c><00:29:31.519><c> a</c><00:29:31.660><c> huge</c><00:29:31.900><c> shift</c><00:29:32.339><c> from</c><00:29:32.920><c> paganism</c><00:29:33.880><c> to</c> 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:39.059 so<00:29:34.720><c>-called</c><00:29:34.940><c> Christianity</c><00:29:35.619><c> and</c><00:29:36.339><c> so</c><00:29:36.740><c> it's</c><00:29:38.380><c> only</c><00:29:38.720><c> fitting</c> 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:44.420 that<00:29:39.339><c> the</c><00:29:39.579><c> Bible</c><00:29:39.839><c> should</c><00:29:40.119><c> describe</c><00:29:40.480><c> it</c><00:29:40.680><c> as</c><00:29:40.819><c> a</c><00:29:41.099><c> great</c><00:29:41.700><c> earthquake.</c><00:29:44.160><c> Well</c><00:29:44.339><c> I</c> 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:46.160 said<00:29:44.559><c> it</c><00:29:44.660><c> was</c><00:29:44.880><c> an</c><00:29:45.099><c> optical</c><00:29:45.680><c> illusion</c> 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:50.339 and<00:29:46.380><c> that's</c><00:29:46.759><c> how</c><00:29:47.000><c> the</c><00:29:47.259><c> scriptures</c><00:29:47.759><c> characterize</c><00:29:48.960><c> it</c><00:29:49.240><c> and</c><00:29:49.460><c> describe</c><00:29:49.940><c> it</c> 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:52.119 in<00:29:50.660><c> symbolic</c><00:29:51.119><c> language</c><00:29:51.559><c> and</c><00:29:51.799><c> we're</c><00:29:52.000><c> going</c> 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:55.559 to<00:29:52.319><c> look</c><00:29:52.460><c> now</c><00:29:53.259><c> in</c><00:29:53.819><c> a</c><00:29:54.039><c> little</c><00:29:54.140><c> bit</c><00:29:54.299><c> of</c><00:29:54.460><c> detail</c><00:29:54.819><c> in</c><00:29:55.160><c> Revelation</c> 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:58.980 chapter<00:29:56.059><c> 12</c><00:29:56.480><c> the</c><00:29:56.740><c> vision</c><00:29:56.960><c> here</c><00:29:57.279><c> of</c><00:29:57.519><c> the</c><00:29:57.720><c> woman</c><00:29:58.059><c> and</c><00:29:58.700><c> the</c> 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:03.579 dragon<00:29:59.440><c> which</c><00:30:00.819><c> I'm</c><00:30:01.339><c> suggesting</c><00:30:01.880><c> and</c><00:30:02.759><c> and</c><00:30:02.900><c> you</c><00:30:03.180><c> probably</c><00:30:03.400><c> have</c> 00:30:03.579 --> 00:30:05.819 already<00:30:03.980><c> considered</c><00:30:04.579><c> this</c><00:30:04.819><c> for</c><00:30:05.000><c> yourself</c><00:30:05.400><c> already</c> 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:09.720 is<00:30:06.420><c> is</c><00:30:06.759><c> a</c><00:30:06.940><c> chapter</c><00:30:07.220><c> that's</c><00:30:07.700><c> describing</c><00:30:08.119><c> God's</c><00:30:08.940><c> work</c><00:30:09.180><c> through</c> 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.900 Constantine<00:30:10.440><c> the</c><00:30:10.819><c> Great.</c> 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:17.299 So<00:30:14.380><c> before</c><00:30:14.880><c> we</c><00:30:15.339><c> before</c><00:30:15.740><c> we</c><00:30:15.900><c> get</c><00:30:16.059><c> lost</c><00:30:16.359><c> in</c><00:30:16.519><c> the</c><00:30:16.700><c> details</c><00:30:17.039><c> we'll</c> 00:30:17.299 --> 00:30:19.960 just<00:30:17.519><c> take</c><00:30:17.680><c> a</c><00:30:17.880><c> step</c><00:30:18.039><c> back,</c><00:30:18.759><c> summarize</c><00:30:19.339><c> the</c><00:30:19.640><c> vision.</c> 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:22.559 There's<00:30:20.519><c> a</c><00:30:20.619><c> number</c><00:30:20.779><c> of</c><00:30:21.099><c> characters</c><00:30:21.400><c> that</c><00:30:21.640><c> we're</c><00:30:21.900><c> presented</c><00:30:22.160><c> with,</c><00:30:22.420><c> a</c> 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:24.039 number<00:30:22.720><c> of</c><00:30:22.980><c> symbols.</c><00:30:23.240><c> There's</c><00:30:23.539><c> this</c> 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:27.079 woman<00:30:24.299><c> in</c><00:30:24.579><c> heaven</c><00:30:24.819><c> who</c><00:30:25.079><c> becomes</c><00:30:25.420><c> pregnant.</c><00:30:26.319><c> She's</c><00:30:26.660><c> in</c><00:30:26.859><c> labor.</c> 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:30.160 She<00:30:27.299><c> gives</c><00:30:27.559><c> birth</c><00:30:27.880><c> to</c><00:30:28.200><c> a</c><00:30:28.839><c> man</c><00:30:29.140><c> child.</c><00:30:29.799><c> There's</c> 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:33.759 this<00:30:30.380><c> great</c><00:30:30.720><c> red</c><00:30:31.019><c> dragon</c><00:30:31.599><c> with</c><00:30:32.359><c> seven</c><00:30:32.640><c> heads</c><00:30:32.900><c> and</c><00:30:33.079><c> ten</c><00:30:33.339><c> horns</c> 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:40.700 in<00:30:34.039><c> heaven.</c><00:30:35.059><c> We're</c><00:30:35.299><c> told</c><00:30:35.460><c> that</c><00:30:35.720><c> his</c><00:30:36.200><c> tail</c><00:30:36.539><c> swept</c><00:30:36.900><c> a</c> 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:44.359 earth.<00:30:42.059><c> The</c><00:30:42.380><c> dragon</c><00:30:42.759><c> stood</c><00:30:43.079><c> in</c><00:30:43.339><c> front</c><00:30:43.480><c> of</c><00:30:43.599><c> the</c><00:30:43.759><c> woman</c><00:30:44.000><c> waiting</c> 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:46.440 to<00:30:44.680><c> devour</c><00:30:44.920><c> the</c><00:30:45.160><c> man</c><00:30:45.440><c> child.</c><00:30:45.819><c> The</c><00:30:45.980><c> man</c><00:30:46.259><c> child</c> 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:50.700 is<00:30:46.740><c> born</c><00:30:47.079><c> and</c><00:30:48.000><c> immediately</c><00:30:48.500><c> taken</c><00:30:48.779><c> up</c><00:30:48.980><c> to</c><00:30:49.140><c> God's</c><00:30:49.599><c> throne.</c><00:30:50.519><c> The</c> 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:53.019 man<00:30:51.000><c> child</c><00:30:51.220><c> was</c><00:30:51.460><c> to</c><00:30:51.720><c> rule</c><00:30:51.940><c> all</c><00:30:52.200><c> nations</c><00:30:52.519><c> with</c><00:30:52.759><c> a</c><00:30:52.900><c> rod</c> 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:57.240 of<00:30:53.259><c> iron.</c><00:30:54.039><c> Echoes</c><00:30:54.519><c> of</c><00:30:54.700><c> Christ</c><00:30:55.019><c> there.</c><00:30:56.299><c> The</c><00:30:56.440><c> woman</c><00:30:56.700><c> flees</c><00:30:57.079><c> into</c> 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:59.779 the<00:30:57.420><c> wilderness</c><00:30:57.759><c> where</c><00:30:58.019><c> she's</c><00:30:58.440><c> to</c><00:30:58.619><c> be</c><00:30:58.859><c> fed</c><00:30:59.019><c> for</c> 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:04.299 1<00:31:00.440><c>,260</c><00:31:00.940><c> days</c><00:31:01.680><c> and</c><00:31:02.500><c> presumably</c><00:31:02.980><c> she's</c><00:31:03.400><c> no</c><00:31:03.599><c> longer</c><00:31:03.900><c> in</c><00:31:04.119><c> heaven.</c> 00:31:04.500 --> 00:31:07.079 She's<00:31:04.599><c> in</c><00:31:04.740><c> the</c><00:31:04.880><c> wilderness.</c><00:31:06.299><c> Next</c><00:31:06.619><c> we're</c><00:31:06.880><c> told</c> 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:09.920 there<00:31:07.299><c> was</c><00:31:07.579><c> war</c><00:31:07.880><c> in</c><00:31:08.039><c> heaven</c><00:31:08.240><c> between</c><00:31:08.720><c> someone</c><00:31:09.039><c> called</c><00:31:09.359><c> Michael</c><00:31:09.740><c> and</c> 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:11.819 his<00:31:10.140><c> angels</c><00:31:10.420><c> against</c><00:31:10.819><c> the</c><00:31:11.140><c> dragon</c><00:31:11.400><c> and</c><00:31:11.619><c> his</c> 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:16.319 angels<00:31:12.279><c> and</c><00:31:14.039><c> Michael</c><00:31:14.400><c> prevails</c><00:31:14.940><c> and</c><00:31:15.119><c> the</c><00:31:15.319><c> dragon</c><00:31:15.539><c> is</c><00:31:15.799><c> his</c><00:31:16.000><c> and</c> 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:19.059 his<00:31:16.579><c> angels</c><00:31:16.880><c> were</c><00:31:17.119><c> cast</c><00:31:17.420><c> out</c><00:31:17.599><c> of</c><00:31:17.759><c> heaven</c><00:31:18.059><c> and</c><00:31:18.839><c> into</c> 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:23.299 the<00:31:19.319><c> earth.</c><00:31:20.500><c> He's</c><00:31:21.059><c> referred</c><00:31:21.400><c> to</c><00:31:21.599><c> as</c><00:31:21.720><c> that</c><00:31:22.000><c> old</c><00:31:22.380><c> serpent</c><00:31:22.759><c> called</c><00:31:23.039><c> the</c> 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:25.420 devil<00:31:23.500><c> and</c><00:31:23.819><c> Satan</c><00:31:23.980><c> which</c><00:31:24.359><c> deceives</c><00:31:24.859><c> the</c><00:31:25.140><c> whole</c> 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:29.279 world.<00:31:27.299><c> So</c><00:31:27.559><c> it's</c><00:31:27.700><c> not</c><00:31:27.859><c> my</c><00:31:28.039><c> intention</c><00:31:28.339><c> to</c><00:31:28.539><c> deal</c><00:31:28.660><c> with</c><00:31:28.880><c> all</c><00:31:29.099><c> of</c> 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:32.480 these<00:31:29.460><c> verses</c><00:31:30.000><c> and</c><00:31:30.559><c> all</c><00:31:30.759><c> of</c><00:31:30.960><c> these</c><00:31:31.500><c> symbols.</c><00:31:32.000><c> We</c><00:31:32.200><c> don't</c> 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:38.500 have<00:31:32.700><c> time</c><00:31:32.900><c> obviously</c><00:31:33.420><c> but</c><00:31:33.960><c> I</c><00:31:34.259><c> would</c><00:31:34.299><c> just</c><00:31:34.519><c> like</c><00:31:34.680><c> to</c><00:31:35.019><c> establish</c><00:31:35.460><c> the</c><00:31:36.319><c> correct</c><00:31:36.960><c> interpretation</c><00:31:37.960><c> of</c><00:31:38.220><c> the</c> 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:44.920 core<00:31:38.819><c> elements</c><00:31:39.259><c> of</c><00:31:39.519><c> this</c><00:31:39.880><c> vision</c><00:31:40.240><c> and</c><00:31:41.000><c> then</c><00:31:41.279><c> see</c><00:31:41.480><c> how</c><00:31:41.880><c> Constantine</c><00:31:42.359><c> fulfilled</c><00:31:42.920><c> the</c><00:31:43.700><c> events</c><00:31:44.059><c> that</c><00:31:44.279><c> are</c><00:31:44.559><c> depicted</c> 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:49.559 by<00:31:45.180><c> these</c><00:31:45.380><c> symbols.</c><00:31:46.660><c> So</c><00:31:46.900><c> in</c><00:31:47.039><c> a</c><00:31:47.140><c> nutshell</c><00:31:47.440><c> the</c><00:31:47.720><c> vision</c><00:31:47.940><c> is</c><00:31:48.299><c> a</c><00:31:48.500><c> parody</c><00:31:48.839><c> of</c> 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:51.960 what<00:31:49.819><c> God</c><00:31:50.160><c> will</c><00:31:50.559><c> ultimately</c><00:31:51.180><c> accomplish</c> 00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:55.680 through<00:31:52.339><c> his</c><00:31:52.640><c> son</c><00:31:52.880><c> the</c><00:31:53.039><c> Lord</c><00:31:53.240><c> Jesus</c><00:31:53.759><c> but</c><00:31:54.519><c> it's</c><00:31:54.940><c> a</c><00:31:55.119><c> counterfeit</c> 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:57.319 savior<00:31:56.079><c> that</c><00:31:56.299><c> we</c><00:31:56.500><c> find</c><00:31:56.700><c> here.</c><00:31:56.880><c> It's</c><00:31:57.099><c> a</c> 00:31:57.319 --> 00:32:06.079 church.<00:31:58.900><c> It's</c><00:31:59.299><c> a</c><00:31:59.460><c> counterfeit</c><00:31:59.980><c> kingdom</c><00:32:00.359><c> of</c><00:32:00.619><c> God</c><00:32:00.980><c> on</c><00:32:01.700><c> earth.</c><00:32:04.039><c> Well</c><00:32:04.259><c> first</c><00:32:04.440><c> of</c><00:32:04.619><c> all</c><00:32:04.880><c> let's</c><00:32:05.200><c> look</c><00:32:05.460><c> at</c><00:32:05.839><c> a</c> 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.660 couple<00:32:06.259><c> of</c><00:32:06.480><c> things.</c> 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:12.200 First<00:32:06.940><c> of</c><00:32:07.079><c> all</c><00:32:07.160><c> this</c><00:32:08.220><c> heaven</c><00:32:08.640><c> where</c><00:32:08.880><c> the</c><00:32:09.079><c> woman</c><00:32:09.299><c> was</c><00:32:09.640><c> found.</c><00:32:11.819><c> I</c> 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:16.480 submit<00:32:12.539><c> that</c><00:32:12.779><c> it's</c><00:32:13.359><c> an</c><00:32:14.640><c> exalted</c><00:32:15.279><c> status,</c> 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:20.859 political<00:32:17.579><c> power.</c><00:32:18.180><c> It's</c><00:32:18.460><c> a</c><00:32:18.579><c> symbol</c><00:32:18.779><c> for</c><00:32:19.019><c> those</c><00:32:19.339><c> things.</c><00:32:20.619><c> The</c> 00:32:20.859 --> 00:32:23.619 woman<00:32:21.220><c> is</c><00:32:21.519><c> a</c><00:32:21.799><c> symbol</c><00:32:22.000><c> for</c><00:32:22.259><c> the</c><00:32:22.460><c> ecclesia</c><00:32:22.880><c> or</c><00:32:23.339><c> the</c> 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:28.359 church<00:32:24.240><c> comprised</c><00:32:24.980><c> of</c><00:32:25.279><c> Christians</c><00:32:25.779><c> both</c><00:32:26.160><c> true</c><00:32:26.539><c> and</c><00:32:26.759><c> false</c><00:32:27.160><c> Christians.</c> 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:36.900 Paul<00:32:30.640><c> says</c><00:32:31.079><c> that</c><00:32:32.019><c> he</c><00:32:32.299><c> is</c><00:32:32.640><c> jealous</c><00:32:33.220><c> over</c><00:32:34.140><c> the</c><00:32:34.460><c> Corinthians</c><00:32:34.859><c> with</c><00:32:35.200><c> godly</c><00:32:35.640><c> jealousy</c><00:32:36.279><c> for</c> 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:38.839 he<00:32:37.180><c> has</c><00:32:37.359><c> espoused</c><00:32:37.980><c> them</c><00:32:38.359><c> to</c> 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:43.380 one<00:32:39.059><c> husband</c><00:32:39.480><c> that</c><00:32:39.700><c> he</c><00:32:39.859><c> may</c><00:32:40.059><c> present</c><00:32:40.480><c> them</c><00:32:40.920><c> as</c><00:32:41.420><c> a</c><00:32:41.720><c> chaste</c><00:32:42.220><c> virgin</c><00:32:42.700><c> to</c> 00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:45.960 Christ.<00:32:44.299><c> So</c><00:32:44.559><c> he</c><00:32:44.740><c> refers</c><00:32:45.059><c> to</c><00:32:45.299><c> the</c><00:32:45.500><c> ecclesia,</c> 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:50.200 the<00:32:46.680><c> true</c><00:32:46.980><c> ecclesia,</c><00:32:47.539><c> as</c><00:32:47.759><c> a</c><00:32:48.019><c> chaste</c><00:32:48.420><c> virgin</c><00:32:48.859><c> and</c><00:32:49.680><c> then</c><00:32:49.799><c> he</c><00:32:49.880><c> goes</c><00:32:50.000><c> on</c> 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:53.000 to<00:32:50.319><c> say</c><00:32:50.420><c> but</c><00:32:50.559><c> I</c><00:32:50.839><c> fear</c><00:32:51.380><c> lest</c><00:32:51.740><c> by</c><00:32:52.059><c> any</c><00:32:52.240><c> means</c><00:32:52.480><c> as</c><00:32:52.740><c> the</c> 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.400 serpent<00:32:53.259><c> beguiled</c><00:32:53.759><c> Eve</c><00:32:54.039><c> through</c><00:32:54.299><c> his</c><00:32:54.619><c> subtlety</c><00:32:55.539><c> so</c><00:32:56.099><c> your</c><00:32:56.559><c> mind</c><00:32:56.880><c> should</c><00:32:57.099><c> be</c> 00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:59.039 corrupted<00:32:57.740><c> from</c><00:32:58.059><c> the</c><00:32:58.319><c> simplicity</c><00:32:58.799><c> that</c> 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:04.579 is<00:32:59.220><c> in</c><00:32:59.420><c> Christ.</c><00:33:01.880><c> So</c><00:33:01.920><c> the</c><00:33:02.480><c> woman</c><00:33:02.819><c> with</c><00:33:03.160><c> child</c><00:33:03.420><c> is</c><00:33:03.660><c> no</c><00:33:03.920><c> longer</c><00:33:04.259><c> a</c> 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:09.019 chaste<00:33:05.039><c> virgin,</c><00:33:07.059><c> no</c><00:33:07.240><c> longer</c><00:33:07.559><c> a</c><00:33:07.819><c> symbol</c><00:33:08.019><c> of</c><00:33:08.359><c> faithfulness</c> 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:12.680 but<00:33:09.240><c> she</c><00:33:09.460><c> is</c><00:33:09.720><c> pregnant</c><00:33:10.220><c> which</c><00:33:11.039><c> of</c><00:33:11.240><c> course</c><00:33:11.460><c> is</c><00:33:11.740><c> a</c><00:33:11.900><c> symbol</c><00:33:12.160><c> for</c> 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:16.460 corruption.<00:33:13.940><c> The</c><00:33:14.160><c> church</c><00:33:14.400><c> has</c><00:33:14.660><c> now</c><00:33:14.859><c> become</c><00:33:15.279><c> corrupt</c> 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:19.539 and<00:33:16.920><c> so</c><00:33:17.240><c> she</c><00:33:17.779><c> we</c><00:33:17.859><c> are</c><00:33:18.059><c> told</c><00:33:18.200><c> that</c><00:33:18.420><c> she's</c><00:33:18.779><c> clothed</c><00:33:19.099><c> with</c><00:33:19.279><c> the</c> 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:23.000 sun<00:33:19.819><c> which</c><00:33:20.619><c> suggests</c><00:33:21.259><c> that</c><00:33:21.539><c> she</c><00:33:21.859><c> enjoys</c><00:33:22.380><c> political</c> 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:26.640 favor<00:33:23.480><c> and</c><00:33:24.299><c> the</c><00:33:24.539><c> growing</c><00:33:24.859><c> popularity</c><00:33:25.500><c> of</c><00:33:25.700><c> this</c><00:33:25.920><c> corrupt</c><00:33:26.339><c> and</c> 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:28.920 very<00:33:26.980><c> accommodating</c><00:33:27.539><c> form</c><00:33:27.819><c> of</c><00:33:28.099><c> Christianity</c><00:33:28.559><c> was</c> 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:34.440 enjoying<00:33:29.339><c> a</c><00:33:30.240><c> great</c><00:33:30.460><c> degree</c><00:33:30.819><c> of</c><00:33:31.119><c> sympathy</c><00:33:31.460><c> by</c><00:33:31.859><c> some</c><00:33:32.099><c> at</c><00:33:32.299><c> the</c><00:33:32.579><c> highest</c><00:33:32.859><c> levels</c><00:33:33.380><c> of</c> 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:36.759 Roman<00:33:34.779><c> society</c><00:33:35.480><c> and</c><00:33:36.460><c> we're</c><00:33:36.660><c> going</c> 00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:40.720 to<00:33:37.039><c> see</c><00:33:37.240><c> that</c><00:33:37.559><c> she</c><00:33:38.240><c> the</c><00:33:38.759><c> church</c><00:33:39.099><c> needed</c><00:33:39.440><c> a</c><00:33:39.839><c> champion,</c><00:33:40.460><c> someone</c> 00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:43.579 to<00:33:41.019><c> help</c><00:33:41.160><c> her</c><00:33:41.839><c> obtain</c><00:33:42.240><c> the</c><00:33:42.539><c> ultimate</c><00:33:43.019><c> position</c> 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:48.700 of<00:33:43.759><c> authority</c><00:33:44.440><c> in</c><00:33:45.259><c> the</c><00:33:46.039><c> empire.</c><00:33:47.299><c> Well</c><00:33:47.460><c> we're</c><00:33:47.640><c> told</c><00:33:47.839><c> that</c><00:33:48.119><c> she</c> 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:52.140 has<00:33:49.079><c> a</c><00:33:49.579><c> crown</c><00:33:49.880><c> which</c><00:33:50.579><c> is</c><00:33:50.839><c> the</c><00:33:50.960><c> word</c><00:33:51.240><c> Stefanos</c><00:33:51.960><c> which</c> 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:57.059 is<00:33:52.400><c> the</c><00:33:52.599><c> victory</c><00:33:53.039><c> wreath</c><00:33:53.279><c> which</c><00:33:53.480><c> is</c><00:33:53.680><c> given</c><00:33:53.940><c> to</c><00:33:54.380><c> Olympic</c><00:33:54.900><c> victors</c><00:33:56.640><c> and</c> 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.559 it<00:33:57.299><c> suggests</c><00:33:57.500><c> that</c><00:33:57.700><c> she's</c><00:33:58.019><c> victorious,</c> 00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:04.180 she's<00:33:59.579><c> competed</c><00:34:00.039><c> with</c><00:34:00.380><c> a</c><00:34:00.539><c> rival</c><00:34:00.900><c> and</c><00:34:01.779><c> somehow</c><00:34:02.200><c> she's</c><00:34:02.759><c> prevailed</c><00:34:03.420><c> and</c><00:34:04.000><c> so</c> 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:06.160 she<00:34:04.339><c> has</c><00:34:04.619><c> this</c><00:34:05.240><c> victory</c><00:34:05.819><c> wreath</c> 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:12.099 on<00:34:06.500><c> her</c><00:34:06.839><c> forehead</c><00:34:07.200><c> and</c><00:34:07.759><c> it</c><00:34:08.000><c> seems</c><00:34:08.219><c> that</c><00:34:08.539><c> Christianity</c><00:34:09.239><c> was</c><00:34:10.219><c> winning</c><00:34:10.500><c> over</c><00:34:10.820><c> the</c><00:34:11.000><c> hearts</c><00:34:11.420><c> of</c> 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.000 many<00:34:12.420><c> in</c><00:34:12.639><c> the</c><00:34:12.800><c> Roman</c> 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:16.739 empire.<00:34:13.500><c> We've</c><00:34:13.559><c> already</c><00:34:13.820><c> talked</c><00:34:14.079><c> about</c><00:34:14.280><c> that</c><00:34:14.599><c> wave</c><00:34:14.960><c> of</c><00:34:15.960><c> support</c><00:34:16.460><c> and</c> 00:34:16.739 --> 00:34:18.239 interest<00:34:17.119><c> in</c><00:34:17.340><c> Christianity</c><00:34:17.920><c> throughout</c> 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:23.980 the<00:34:18.519><c> empire</c><00:34:18.900><c> but</c><00:34:19.780><c> it</c><00:34:19.900><c> was</c><00:34:20.059><c> at</c><00:34:20.239><c> the</c><00:34:20.539><c> expense</c><00:34:21.019><c> of</c><00:34:21.699><c> the</c><00:34:21.900><c> pagan</c><00:34:22.420><c> religion</c><00:34:23.099><c> and</c> 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:25.840 its<00:34:24.539><c> adherence.</c> 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:29.619 What<00:34:27.780><c> about</c><00:34:27.940><c> that</c><00:34:28.219><c> red</c><00:34:28.480><c> dragon</c><00:34:28.800><c> that</c><00:34:28.940><c> was</c><00:34:29.139><c> in</c><00:34:29.260><c> the</c><00:34:29.380><c> vision?</c> 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.840 I've<00:34:30.280><c> already</c><00:34:30.500><c> suggested</c><00:34:31.019><c> that</c> 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:36.940 the<00:34:32.179><c> Roman</c><00:34:32.739><c> imperial</c><00:34:33.400><c> power</c><00:34:33.780><c> was</c><00:34:34.219><c> the</c><00:34:35.039><c> fourth</c><00:34:35.559><c> dreadful</c><00:34:36.340><c> beast</c><00:34:36.639><c> that</c> 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:40.199 Daniel<00:34:37.280><c> saw</c><00:34:37.880><c> in</c><00:34:38.500><c> Daniel</c><00:34:38.980><c> chapter</c><00:34:39.539><c> seven.</c> 00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:43.980 It's<00:34:41.079><c> just</c><00:34:41.340><c> a</c><00:34:41.519><c> different</c><00:34:41.920><c> phase</c><00:34:42.360><c> of</c><00:34:42.539><c> that</c><00:34:42.860><c> beast</c><00:34:43.239><c> and</c><00:34:43.840><c> there</c> 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:46.360 will<00:34:44.159><c> be</c><00:34:44.340><c> many</c><00:34:44.659><c> phases</c><00:34:45.119><c> of</c><00:34:45.460><c> that</c><00:34:45.780><c> same</c><00:34:46.079><c> beast</c> 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:50.239 throughout<00:34:46.639><c> the</c><00:34:46.860><c> book</c><00:34:47.039><c> of</c><00:34:47.280><c> Revelation</c><00:34:47.760><c> and</c><00:34:48.659><c> we'll</c><00:34:48.860><c> be</c><00:34:49.079><c> looking</c><00:34:49.400><c> at</c><00:34:49.820><c> that</c><00:34:50.039><c> God</c> 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:52.099 willing<00:34:50.500><c> in</c><00:34:50.719><c> our</c><00:34:51.380><c> subsequent</c> 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:56.840 classes.<00:34:53.940><c> Well</c><00:34:54.039><c> we</c><00:34:54.159><c> know</c><00:34:54.400><c> it's</c><00:34:54.739><c> the</c><00:34:55.019><c> the</c><00:34:55.280><c> same</c><00:34:55.559><c> beast</c><00:34:55.840><c> as</c><00:34:56.079><c> Daniel</c><00:34:56.360><c> because</c><00:34:56.639><c> it</c> 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.019 has<00:34:57.019><c> the</c><00:34:57.219><c> same</c><00:34:57.380><c> number</c><00:34:57.619><c> of</c><00:34:57.860><c> horns,</c> 00:34:58.059 --> 00:35:03.639 it<00:34:58.179><c> has</c><00:34:58.340><c> 10</c><00:34:58.619><c> horns</c><00:34:59.099><c> and</c><00:35:00.360><c> the</c><00:35:01.539><c> Greek</c><00:35:01.860><c> here</c><00:35:02.139><c> for</c><00:35:02.440><c> red,</c><00:35:03.000><c> the</c><00:35:03.199><c> red</c> 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:06.579 dragon<00:35:04.139><c> is</c><00:35:05.099><c> fire</c><00:35:05.539><c>-like</c><00:35:05.780><c> and</c><00:35:06.000><c> it's</c><00:35:06.139><c> from</c><00:35:06.300><c> the</c> 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:10.179 root<00:35:06.820><c> word</c><00:35:07.059><c> for</c><00:35:07.340><c> fire</c><00:35:07.760><c> and</c><00:35:08.559><c> I</c><00:35:08.639><c> think</c><00:35:08.860><c> that</c><00:35:09.119><c> red</c><00:35:09.280><c> is</c><00:35:09.559><c> a</c><00:35:09.920><c> fitting</c> 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:15.320 symbol<00:35:10.679><c> to</c><00:35:12.639><c> symbolize</c><00:35:13.920><c> flesh</c><00:35:14.440><c> and</c><00:35:15.019><c> sin</c> 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:19.739 and<00:35:16.079><c> it</c><00:35:16.179><c> was</c><00:35:16.539><c> an</c><00:35:17.239><c> appropriate</c><00:35:17.659><c> color</c><00:35:18.019><c> for</c><00:35:18.239><c> the</c><00:35:18.500><c> dragon</c><00:35:18.880><c> which</c> 00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:23.639 symbolized<00:35:20.380><c> pagan</c><00:35:20.880><c> Rome</c><00:35:21.519><c> and</c><00:35:22.699><c> the</c><00:35:22.940><c> Roman</c><00:35:23.139><c> lesions</c> 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:29.219 in<00:35:23.900><c> fact</c><00:35:24.159><c> used</c><00:35:24.800><c> the</c><00:35:25.199><c> symbol</c><00:35:25.460><c> of</c><00:35:25.699><c> the</c><00:35:25.920><c> dragon</c><00:35:26.199><c> on</c><00:35:26.539><c> their</c><00:35:26.900><c> standards,</c><00:35:27.760><c> on</c><00:35:27.760><c> their</c><00:35:28.579><c> flags</c><00:35:28.980><c> as</c> 00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:30.599 they<00:35:29.440><c> marched</c><00:35:29.739><c> into</c> 00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:34.639 battle<00:35:31.179><c> and</c><00:35:32.639><c> I</c><00:35:32.800><c> think</c><00:35:33.019><c> we</c><00:35:33.260><c> can</c><00:35:33.539><c> conclude</c><00:35:33.860><c> from</c><00:35:34.139><c> the</c><00:35:34.239><c> way</c><00:35:34.360><c> it's</c> 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.559 described<00:35:34.940><c> in</c><00:35:35.099><c> the</c><00:35:35.239><c> record</c><00:35:35.500><c> in</c><00:35:35.739><c> Revelation</c><00:35:36.099><c> chapter</c> 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:40.079 the<00:35:36.960><c> dragon</c><00:35:37.300><c> is</c><00:35:37.579><c> obviously</c><00:35:38.139><c> an</c><00:35:38.559><c> adversary</c><00:35:39.079><c> of</c><00:35:39.360><c> the</c><00:35:39.539><c> woman</c><00:35:39.820><c> and</c> 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:43.280 her<00:35:40.340><c> child</c><00:35:40.800><c> and</c><00:35:42.179><c> this</c><00:35:42.380><c> is</c><00:35:42.679><c> consistent</c><00:35:43.099><c> I</c> 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:46.219 think<00:35:43.460><c> with</c><00:35:43.659><c> what</c><00:35:43.800><c> we</c><00:35:44.000><c> noted</c><00:35:44.159><c> earlier</c><00:35:44.599><c> looking</c><00:35:44.900><c> at</c><00:35:45.079><c> the</c><00:35:45.320><c> persecutions</c><00:35:45.940><c> by</c> 00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:48.639 Nero<00:35:46.639><c> and</c><00:35:47.380><c> subsequent</c><00:35:47.860><c> emperors.</c> 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:54.280 The<00:35:49.219><c> empire</c><00:35:49.639><c> was</c><00:35:49.940><c> an</c><00:35:50.340><c> adversary</c><00:35:50.800><c> to</c><00:35:51.059><c> God's</c><00:35:51.900><c> ecclesia,</c><00:35:52.360><c> to</c><00:35:52.559><c> believers</c><00:35:53.000><c> as</c> 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.320 well<00:35:54.500><c> as</c><00:35:54.619><c> to</c><00:35:54.739><c> those</c><00:35:54.920><c> who</c><00:35:55.099><c> weren't</c> 00:35:55.320 --> 00:36:01.780 necessarily<00:35:56.079><c> believers</c><00:35:56.539><c> of</c><00:35:56.739><c> the</c><00:35:56.940><c> truth</c><00:35:57.280><c> but</c><00:35:58.179><c> were</c><00:35:59.079><c> professing</c><00:35:59.699><c> Christians.</c><00:36:01.039><c> What</c><00:36:01.219><c> about</c><00:36:01.440><c> that</c> 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.280 man<00:36:02.059><c>-child?</c> 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:05.880 Well<00:36:02.480><c> I</c><00:36:02.579><c> suggest</c><00:36:02.940><c> that</c><00:36:03.139><c> he's</c><00:36:03.559><c> the</c><00:36:03.880><c> savior,</c><00:36:04.280><c> he's</c><00:36:04.440><c> the</c><00:36:04.619><c> deliverer</c><00:36:05.539><c> that</c> 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:08.059 the<00:36:06.300><c> church,</c><00:36:06.940><c> the</c><00:36:07.199><c> woman,</c><00:36:07.559><c> the</c><00:36:07.800><c> pregnant</c> 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:14.639 woman<00:36:08.380><c> needs</c><00:36:08.920><c> to</c><00:36:09.880><c> help</c><00:36:10.219><c> her</c><00:36:10.500><c> in</c><00:36:10.659><c> this</c><00:36:11.559><c> battle</c><00:36:12.059><c> against</c><00:36:12.480><c> paganism</c><00:36:13.320><c> and</c><00:36:14.159><c> there's</c><00:36:14.440><c> an</c> 00:36:14.639 --> 00:36:16.679 echo<00:36:14.840><c> here</c><00:36:15.579><c> to</c><00:36:16.320><c> the</c><00:36:16.500><c> Lord</c> 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:20.179 Jesus<00:36:17.059><c> who</c><00:36:17.199><c> was</c><00:36:17.440><c> sent</c><00:36:17.619><c> as</c><00:36:17.840><c> a</c><00:36:18.059><c> savior</c><00:36:18.300><c> to</c><00:36:18.539><c> help</c><00:36:18.739><c> his</c><00:36:19.320><c> people.</c><00:36:19.719><c> There's</c><00:36:19.960><c> an</c> 00:36:20.179 --> 00:36:22.679 echo<00:36:20.340><c> to</c><00:36:20.599><c> Genesis</c><00:36:20.980><c> 3</c><00:36:21.400><c> 15</c><00:36:21.860><c> where</c><00:36:22.099><c> Eve</c><00:36:22.360><c> was</c> 00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:27.300 promised<00:36:22.980><c> a</c><00:36:23.320><c> seed</c><00:36:23.599><c> that</c><00:36:24.159><c> would</c><00:36:24.480><c> crush</c><00:36:24.780><c> the</c><00:36:25.019><c> head</c><00:36:25.139><c> of</c><00:36:25.320><c> the</c><00:36:25.539><c> serpent</c><00:36:25.940><c> and</c> 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:29.460 here<00:36:27.800><c> the</c><00:36:28.320><c> same</c><00:36:28.559><c> sort</c><00:36:28.760><c> of</c><00:36:28.960><c> language</c><00:36:29.260><c> is</c> 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:34.699 being<00:36:29.679><c> used</c><00:36:30.119><c> of</c><00:36:32.000><c> I</c><00:36:32.239><c> would</c><00:36:32.460><c> suggest</c><00:36:32.980><c> Constantine,</c><00:36:33.900><c> this</c><00:36:34.320><c> Roman</c> 00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:38.039 emperor<00:36:35.219><c> who</c><00:36:35.880><c> is</c><00:36:36.199><c> a</c><00:36:36.460><c> counterfeit</c><00:36:37.079><c> savior</c> 00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:41.559 that<00:36:38.880><c> has</c><00:36:39.139><c> been</c><00:36:39.739><c> provided</c><00:36:40.139><c> to</c><00:36:40.380><c> the</c><00:36:40.559><c> church.</c><00:36:41.159><c> So</c><00:36:41.280><c> we'll</c><00:36:41.440><c> put</c> 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:44.019 all<00:36:41.699><c> these</c><00:36:41.900><c> pieces</c><00:36:42.159><c> together</c><00:36:42.619><c> then</c><00:36:42.840><c> very</c><00:36:43.179><c> quickly.</c> 00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:47.000 Heaven<00:36:44.360><c> is</c><00:36:44.679><c> a</c><00:36:44.780><c> position</c><00:36:45.139><c> of</c><00:36:45.460><c> strength</c><00:36:45.719><c> and</c><00:36:46.000><c> authority,</c><00:36:46.780><c> the</c> 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:50.139 woman<00:36:47.219><c> is</c><00:36:47.579><c> corrupt</c><00:36:48.159><c> Christianity,</c><00:36:49.619><c> the</c><00:36:49.760><c> Christian</c> 00:36:50.139 --> 00:36:53.599 church,<00:36:50.920><c> the</c><00:36:51.219><c> dragon</c><00:36:51.579><c> is</c><00:36:51.980><c> the</c><00:36:52.239><c> pagan</c><00:36:52.460><c> imperial</c><00:36:52.960><c> Roman</c><00:36:53.280><c> power</c> 00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:56.039 who's<00:36:53.920><c> battling</c><00:36:54.440><c> or</c><00:36:54.960><c> waiting</c><00:36:55.219><c> to</c><00:36:55.599><c> devour</c><00:36:55.860><c> the</c> 00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:59.639 man<00:36:56.599><c>-child.</c><00:36:57.059><c> The</c><00:36:57.179><c> man</c><00:36:57.480><c>-child</c><00:36:57.860><c> and</c><00:36:58.559><c> Michael</c><00:36:58.980><c> who</c><00:36:59.179><c> shows</c><00:36:59.380><c> up</c><00:36:59.559><c> in</c> 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:02.239 the<00:36:59.800><c> vision</c><00:36:59.960><c> is</c><00:37:00.360><c> Constantine,</c><00:37:01.179><c> the</c><00:37:01.480><c> champion</c><00:37:01.920><c> that</c> 00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:07.480 God<00:37:02.460><c> has</c><00:37:02.760><c> provided</c><00:37:03.139><c> and</c><00:37:05.000><c> we're</c><00:37:05.780><c> going</c><00:37:05.960><c> to</c><00:37:06.659><c> skip</c><00:37:06.900><c> the</c><00:37:07.119><c> rest</c><00:37:07.320><c> and</c> 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:10.219 move<00:37:07.699><c> forward.</c><00:37:09.119><c> Interestingly,</c> 00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:15.159 Constantine<00:37:11.579><c> it</c><00:37:11.739><c> is</c><00:37:12.039><c> said</c><00:37:12.739><c> saw</c><00:37:13.659><c> a</c><00:37:14.000><c> vision</c><00:37:14.320><c> heading</c><00:37:14.679><c> into</c><00:37:14.980><c> one</c> 00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:18.239 of<00:37:15.239><c> his</c><00:37:15.460><c> battles</c><00:37:15.800><c> in</c><00:37:16.039><c> 8312.</c><00:37:17.199><c> The</c><00:37:17.480><c> vision</c><00:37:17.679><c> was</c><00:37:17.900><c> that</c> 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:20.880 symbol<00:37:18.480><c> you</c><00:37:18.760><c> see</c><00:37:18.920><c> in</c><00:37:19.039><c> the</c><00:37:19.280><c> top</c><00:37:19.480><c> right</c><00:37:19.739><c> corner</c><00:37:20.059><c> of</c><00:37:20.300><c> the</c><00:37:20.440><c> screen</c> 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:24.579 and<00:37:22.199><c> it's</c><00:37:22.619><c> the</c><00:37:22.780><c> letters,</c><00:37:23.579><c> the</c><00:37:23.900><c> Latin</c><00:37:24.179><c> letters</c> 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:29.159 chi<00:37:25.079><c> and</c><00:37:25.440><c> row</c><00:37:25.639><c> which</c><00:37:25.880><c> apparently</c><00:37:26.300><c> was</c><00:37:26.559><c> short</c><00:37:26.840><c> form</c><00:37:27.119><c> for</c><00:37:27.380><c> Christ</c><00:37:27.860><c> and</c> 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:31.960 this<00:37:29.800><c> is</c><00:37:30.519><c> the</c><00:37:30.760><c> vision</c><00:37:30.980><c> he</c><00:37:31.239><c> sees</c><00:37:31.460><c> in</c><00:37:31.619><c> the</c><00:37:31.800><c> sky</c> 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:38.159 supposedly<00:37:32.440><c> and</c><00:37:32.719><c> here's</c><00:37:33.000><c> the</c><00:37:33.159><c> voice</c><00:37:33.480><c> saying</c><00:37:33.900><c> by</c><00:37:34.559><c> this,</c><00:37:34.920><c> by</c><00:37:35.179><c> this</c><00:37:35.460><c> symbol</c><00:37:35.840><c> conquer.</c><00:37:37.760><c> So</c> 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:39.940 we're<00:37:38.500><c> not</c><00:37:38.860><c> interested</c><00:37:39.679><c> in</c> 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:44.099 knowing<00:37:40.099><c> whether</c><00:37:41.079><c> in</c><00:37:41.579><c> fact</c><00:37:41.900><c> Constantine</c><00:37:42.699><c> actually</c><00:37:43.440><c> saw</c><00:37:43.800><c> this</c> 00:37:44.099 --> 00:37:46.159 vision<00:37:44.300><c> and</c><00:37:44.519><c> heard</c><00:37:44.619><c> the</c><00:37:44.840><c> voice.</c><00:37:45.119><c> The</c><00:37:45.320><c> point</c><00:37:45.539><c> is</c> 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:49.340 that<00:37:46.460><c> he's</c><00:37:46.800><c> actually</c><00:37:47.219><c> claiming</c><00:37:47.820><c> that</c><00:37:48.360><c> this</c><00:37:48.579><c> is</c><00:37:48.760><c> a</c><00:37:48.880><c> vision</c><00:37:49.039><c> he</c> 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:51.480 saw,<00:37:49.639><c> he's</c><00:37:49.800><c> claiming</c><00:37:50.159><c> this</c><00:37:50.380><c> is</c><00:37:50.559><c> a</c><00:37:50.679><c> voice</c><00:37:50.900><c> he</c><00:37:51.219><c> heard,</c> 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:58.940 he's<00:37:52.179><c> claiming</c><00:37:52.659><c> to</c><00:37:52.960><c> be</c><00:37:53.440><c> the</c><00:37:53.800><c> champion</c><00:37:54.360><c> of</c><00:37:54.900><c> Christianity,</c><00:37:55.860><c> he's</c><00:37:56.340><c> actually</c><00:37:56.760><c> taking</c><00:37:57.079><c> that</c><00:37:57.559><c> upon</c><00:37:57.860><c> himself.</c><00:37:58.440><c> This</c><00:37:58.659><c> is</c> 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:03.820 something<00:37:59.139><c> deliberate,</c><00:38:00.119><c> this</c><00:38:00.320><c> is</c><00:38:00.679><c> as</c><00:38:00.800><c> you</c><00:38:00.960><c> might</c><00:38:01.219><c> think</c><00:38:02.059><c> propaganda</c><00:38:03.099><c> that</c> 00:38:03.820 --> 00:38:05.699 Constantine<00:38:04.480><c> is</c><00:38:04.880><c> using</c> 00:38:06.929 --> 00:38:11.519 to<00:38:07.320><c> advance</c><00:38:07.880><c> his</c><00:38:08.260><c> cause</c><00:38:08.559><c> and</c><00:38:08.880><c> to</c><00:38:09.820><c> tap</c><00:38:10.119><c> into</c><00:38:10.559><c> the</c><00:38:10.860><c> sympathies</c> 00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:14.980 that<00:38:11.860><c> existed</c><00:38:12.260><c> within</c><00:38:13.179><c> the</c><00:38:13.920><c> constituents</c><00:38:14.360><c> of</c><00:38:14.599><c> the</c><00:38:14.739><c> Roman</c> 00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:18.559 Empire<00:38:15.380><c> who</c><00:38:15.619><c> of</c><00:38:15.800><c> course</c><00:38:16.179><c> many</c><00:38:16.599><c> of</c><00:38:16.780><c> which</c><00:38:16.960><c> were</c><00:38:17.739><c> turning</c><00:38:18.099><c> and</c> 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:21.460 becoming<00:38:18.880><c> Christians</c><00:38:19.519><c> themselves.</c><00:38:20.960><c> So</c><00:38:21.199><c> he's</c> 00:38:21.460 --> 00:38:25.860 portraying<00:38:22.039><c> himself</c><00:38:22.400><c> as</c><00:38:22.619><c> on</c><00:38:22.820><c> a</c><00:38:22.960><c> mission</c><00:38:23.260><c> from</c><00:38:23.539><c> Christ</c><00:38:24.059><c> and</c><00:38:24.639><c> from</c><00:38:24.940><c> God</c><00:38:25.420><c> to</c> 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:29.340 do<00:38:26.099><c> God's</c><00:38:26.599><c> will</c><00:38:26.880><c> and</c><00:38:28.219><c> Constantine</c><00:38:28.880><c> is</c><00:38:29.039><c> very</c> 00:38:29.340 --> 00:38:33.900 successful.<00:38:30.400><c> Like</c><00:38:30.800><c> Michael</c><00:38:31.199><c> in</c><00:38:31.519><c> that</c><00:38:31.840><c> vision</c><00:38:32.159><c> he</c><00:38:32.820><c> overthrows</c> 00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:37.260 his<00:38:34.519><c> pagan</c><00:38:34.860><c> imperial</c><00:38:35.619><c> counterparts,</c><00:38:36.760><c> he</c> 00:38:37.260 --> 00:38:42.519 he<00:38:37.619><c> uproots</c><00:38:37.920><c> and</c><00:38:38.340><c> throws</c><00:38:38.599><c> down</c><00:38:38.940><c> the</c><00:38:39.239><c> dragon.</c><00:38:39.960><c> First</c><00:38:40.320><c> he</c><00:38:40.599><c> overthrows</c><00:38:41.059><c> Maxentius</c><00:38:41.940><c> in</c> 00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:45.420 312<00:38:43.380><c> AD,</c><00:38:44.260><c> then</c><00:38:44.719><c> Maximinus</c> 00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:54.480 in<00:38:45.579><c> 313</c><00:38:46.420><c> and</c><00:38:47.119><c> lastly</c><00:38:47.599><c> Licinius</c><00:38:48.440><c> in</c><00:38:48.780><c> 324</c><00:38:49.539><c> and</c><00:38:50.079><c> now</c><00:38:50.400><c> he's</c><00:38:50.639><c> the</c><00:38:51.039><c> only</c><00:38:52.000><c> ruling</c><00:38:53.059><c> power</c><00:38:53.699><c> in</c> 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.800 the<00:38:54.639><c> Roman</c><00:38:54.860><c> Empire,</c><00:38:55.260><c> he's</c><00:38:55.599><c> the</c> 00:38:55.800 --> 00:38:59.139 ultimate<00:38:56.219><c> authority.</c><00:38:56.780><c> The</c><00:38:56.980><c> dragon</c><00:38:57.340><c> has</c><00:38:57.619><c> been</c><00:38:57.880><c> cast</c><00:38:58.420><c> out</c><00:38:58.920><c> of</c> 00:38:59.139 --> 00:39:01.980 heaven<00:38:59.420><c> and</c><00:39:00.019><c> this</c><00:39:00.219><c> is</c><00:39:00.380><c> how</c><00:39:00.480><c> he</c><00:39:00.699><c> portrays</c><00:39:01.119><c> it.</c><00:39:01.239><c> On</c><00:39:01.400><c> the</c><00:39:01.599><c> coinage</c> 00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:05.980 of<00:39:02.300><c> Constantine</c><00:39:02.920><c> you'll</c><00:39:03.639><c> see</c><00:39:03.800><c> here</c><00:39:04.079><c> on</c><00:39:04.380><c> the</c><00:39:04.980><c> side</c><00:39:05.179><c> of</c><00:39:05.340><c> the</c><00:39:05.440><c> coin</c><00:39:05.579><c> that's</c><00:39:05.800><c> on</c> 00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.880 the<00:39:06.119><c> right</c><00:39:06.320><c> hand</c><00:39:06.539><c> first</c><00:39:06.860><c> of</c><00:39:07.000><c> all</c><00:39:07.099><c> there's</c> 00:39:08.179 --> 00:39:13.400 that<00:39:08.639><c> chai</c><00:39:09.059><c> ro</c><00:39:09.219><c> symbol</c><00:39:09.699><c> again</c><00:39:10.179><c> on</c><00:39:10.699><c> the</c><00:39:10.900><c> top</c><00:39:11.219><c> of</c><00:39:11.579><c> a</c><00:39:12.159><c> stake</c><00:39:12.519><c> that</c> 00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:17.619 is<00:39:13.840><c> impaled</c><00:39:14.460><c> on</c><00:39:15.000><c> a</c><00:39:15.340><c> serpent</c><00:39:15.639><c> or</c><00:39:16.039><c> dragon</c><00:39:16.360><c> at</c><00:39:16.599><c> the</c><00:39:16.800><c> bottom.</c> 00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:21.199 So<00:39:18.099><c> he's</c><00:39:18.420><c> portraying</c><00:39:18.940><c> himself</c><00:39:19.460><c> as</c><00:39:20.059><c> the</c><00:39:20.239><c> one</c><00:39:20.380><c> who's</c><00:39:20.639><c> acting</c><00:39:20.940><c> on</c> 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:24.139 Christ's<00:39:21.639><c> behalf</c><00:39:22.019><c> overcoming</c><00:39:22.980><c> the</c><00:39:23.380><c> serpent</c><00:39:23.659><c> or</c><00:39:23.900><c> the</c> 00:39:24.139 --> 00:39:27.820 dragon<00:39:24.460><c> and</c><00:39:25.679><c> Michael</c><00:39:26.099><c> Grant</c><00:39:26.400><c> says</c><00:39:26.699><c> here</c><00:39:26.980><c> that</c><00:39:27.280><c> Constantine</c> 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:30.760 at<00:39:27.980><c> his</c><00:39:28.179><c> new</c><00:39:28.440><c> capital</c><00:39:28.800><c> Constantinople</c><00:39:29.960><c> the</c><00:39:30.460><c> standard</c> 00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:36.960 bearing<00:39:31.039><c> the</c><00:39:31.239><c> letters</c><00:39:31.460><c> chai</c><00:39:31.960><c> ro</c><00:39:32.179><c> Christos</c><00:39:32.980><c> and</c><00:39:33.539><c> inscribed</c><00:39:33.840><c> the</c><00:39:34.139><c> national</c><00:39:34.539><c> hope</c><00:39:34.780><c> crushes</c><00:39:35.280><c> the</c><00:39:35.519><c> serpent</c><00:39:35.840><c> of</c><00:39:36.219><c> evil.</c> 00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:42.179 This<00:39:37.440><c> is</c><00:39:37.739><c> how</c><00:39:37.800><c> Constantine</c><00:39:38.380><c> portrays</c><00:39:38.960><c> himself</c><00:39:39.380><c> on</c><00:39:39.980><c> the</c><00:39:40.179><c> coinage.</c><00:39:41.079><c> Remember</c><00:39:41.340><c> he's</c> 00:39:42.179 --> 00:39:43.340 he's<00:39:42.480><c> claiming</c><00:39:42.739><c> that</c><00:39:43.059><c> that</c> 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:48.800 is<00:39:43.559><c> the</c><00:39:43.699><c> case</c><00:39:43.880><c> but</c><00:39:43.980><c> of</c><00:39:44.179><c> course</c><00:39:44.360><c> he's</c><00:39:44.699><c> a</c><00:39:44.800><c> counterfeit,</c><00:39:45.340><c> he's</c><00:39:45.760><c> not</c><00:39:46.000><c> really</c><00:39:46.380><c> Christ</c><00:39:47.219><c> ruling</c><00:39:48.159><c> on</c> 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:50.000 God's<00:39:49.199><c> behalf</c><00:39:49.519><c> on</c><00:39:49.820><c> the</c> 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:54.360 earth.<00:39:51.960><c> Well</c><00:39:52.119><c> I'm</c><00:39:52.199><c> just</c><00:39:52.480><c> looking</c><00:39:53.139><c> now</c><00:39:53.420><c> at</c><00:39:53.500><c> brother</c><00:39:53.719><c> Jim</c><00:39:54.039><c> doing</c> 00:39:54.360 --> 00:40:00.320 a<00:39:54.659><c> time</c><00:39:54.900><c> check,</c><00:39:58.199><c> 10</c><00:39:58.420><c> minutes</c><00:39:58.880><c> okay.</c> 00:40:04.260 --> 00:40:07.239 So<00:40:04.860><c> it's</c><00:40:05.119><c> thought</c><00:40:05.219><c> by</c><00:40:05.500><c> some</c><00:40:05.719><c> obviously</c><00:40:06.360><c> including</c><00:40:06.760><c> ourselves</c> 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:09.239 that<00:40:07.539><c> Constantine's</c><00:40:08.260><c> vision</c><00:40:08.559><c> was</c><00:40:08.920><c> probably</c> 00:40:09.239 --> 00:40:13.460 not<00:40:09.559><c> as</c><00:40:09.860><c> legitimate</c><00:40:10.300><c> or</c><00:40:10.780><c> as</c><00:40:11.119><c> sincere</c><00:40:11.599><c> as</c><00:40:12.340><c> he</c><00:40:12.900><c> claimed</c><00:40:13.099><c> that</c><00:40:13.260><c> it</c> 00:40:13.460 --> 00:40:17.579 was.<00:40:14.980><c> It</c><00:40:15.199><c> was</c><00:40:15.480><c> really</c><00:40:15.760><c> just</c><00:40:16.219><c> a</c><00:40:16.500><c> tactical</c><00:40:16.920><c> maneuver</c> 00:40:17.579 --> 00:40:22.579 that<00:40:18.119><c> he</c><00:40:18.639><c> knew</c><00:40:18.880><c> that</c><00:40:19.079><c> there</c><00:40:19.260><c> was</c><00:40:19.440><c> this</c><00:40:19.760><c> ground</c><00:40:20.179><c> swallow</c><00:40:20.539><c> support</c><00:40:21.099><c> in</c><00:40:21.280><c> the</c><00:40:21.460><c> empire</c><00:40:21.840><c> in</c> 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:23.619 favor<00:40:22.840><c> of</c><00:40:23.139><c> Christianity,</c> 00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:26.659 he's<00:40:24.300><c> now</c><00:40:24.519><c> going</c><00:40:24.719><c> to</c><00:40:25.000><c> tap</c><00:40:25.179><c> into</c><00:40:25.420><c> that.</c><00:40:25.699><c> We</c><00:40:25.880><c> see</c><00:40:26.139><c> that</c><00:40:26.360><c> in</c><00:40:26.480><c> our</c> 00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:29.800 day<00:40:26.820><c> and</c><00:40:26.920><c> age</c><00:40:27.300><c> politicians</c><00:40:28.139><c> will</c><00:40:28.559><c> tap</c><00:40:28.820><c> into</c><00:40:29.219><c> whatever</c> 00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:35.539 support<00:40:30.519><c> they</c><00:40:30.739><c> can</c><00:40:31.019><c> find</c><00:40:31.400><c> and</c><00:40:32.519><c> that's</c><00:40:33.239><c> precisely</c><00:40:33.719><c> what</c><00:40:34.079><c> Constantine</c><00:40:34.739><c> seems</c> 00:40:35.539 --> 00:40:38.059 to<00:40:36.059><c> be</c><00:40:36.340><c> doing</c><00:40:36.659><c> in</c><00:40:37.380><c> making</c><00:40:37.679><c> these</c> 00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:42.039 claims<00:40:38.340><c> that</c><00:40:38.480><c> he's</c><00:40:38.699><c> making</c><00:40:38.960><c> and</c><00:40:39.800><c> the</c><00:40:40.400><c> historian</c><00:40:40.980><c> Scar</c><00:40:41.719><c> writes</c> 00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:43.880 the<00:40:42.300><c> following,</c><00:40:42.719><c> it</c><00:40:42.719><c> was</c><00:40:42.940><c> Constantine</c><00:40:43.519><c> who</c><00:40:43.699><c> made</c> 00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:47.019 Christianity<00:40:44.420><c> the</c><00:40:44.760><c> official</c><00:40:45.199><c> religion</c><00:40:45.579><c> of</c><00:40:45.739><c> the</c><00:40:45.900><c> empire</c><00:40:46.280><c> and</c> 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:50.260 founded<00:40:47.280><c> the</c><00:40:47.539><c> new</c><00:40:47.739><c> imperial</c><00:40:48.179><c> capital</c><00:40:48.599><c> of</c><00:40:49.000><c> Constantinople.</c> 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:53.119 There's<00:40:51.019><c> certainly</c><00:40:51.300><c> no</c><00:40:51.599><c> reason</c><00:40:51.960><c> to</c><00:40:52.179><c> doubt</c><00:40:52.400><c> that</c><00:40:52.699><c> Constantine</c> 00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:55.739 was<00:40:53.360><c> a</c><00:40:53.400><c> man</c><00:40:53.559><c> of</c><00:40:53.840><c> severe</c><00:40:54.360><c> religious</c><00:40:55.079><c> conviction,</c> 00:40:55.739 --> 00:41:01.760 I'm<00:40:56.980><c> sorry</c><00:40:57.179><c> sincere</c><00:40:57.719><c> religious</c><00:40:58.139><c> conviction</c><00:40:58.559><c> but</c><00:40:58.760><c> he</c><00:40:58.880><c> was</c><00:40:59.159><c> also</c><00:40:59.519><c> enabled</c><00:41:00.460><c> propagandist,</c><00:41:01.619><c> a</c> 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.760 gifted<00:41:02.019><c> military</c> 00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:08.260 commander<00:41:03.219><c> and</c><00:41:04.119><c> an</c><00:41:04.380><c> unscrupulous</c><00:41:05.340><c> and</c><00:41:05.719><c> determined</c><00:41:06.340><c> manipulator.</c><00:41:07.480><c> So</c><00:41:07.699><c> he</c><00:41:07.840><c> had</c><00:41:08.000><c> an</c> 00:41:08.260 --> 00:41:09.739 agenda<00:41:08.639><c> and</c><00:41:09.260><c> he</c><00:41:09.400><c> was</c> 00:41:09.739 --> 00:41:12.860 prepared<00:41:10.039><c> to</c><00:41:10.260><c> do</c><00:41:10.420><c> whatever</c><00:41:10.840><c> it</c><00:41:11.219><c> took</c><00:41:11.460><c> to</c><00:41:12.019><c> achieve</c><00:41:12.380><c> the</c><00:41:12.659><c> final</c> 00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:14.960 outcome<00:41:13.239><c> which</c><00:41:13.519><c> of</c><00:41:13.760><c> course</c><00:41:14.039><c> was</c><00:41:14.300><c> to</c><00:41:14.639><c> become</c> 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:21.719 the<00:41:15.820><c> ultimate</c><00:41:16.219><c> power</c><00:41:16.559><c> and</c><00:41:16.840><c> authority.</c><00:41:17.619><c> Five,</c><00:41:19.000><c> okay</c><00:41:19.320><c> that</c><00:41:19.880><c> sounds</c><00:41:20.280><c> like</c><00:41:21.559><c> it</c> 00:41:21.719 --> 00:41:23.260 makes<00:41:21.860><c> more</c><00:41:22.099><c> sense,</c><00:41:22.500><c> 10</c><00:41:22.639><c> and</c><00:41:22.719><c> 15</c><00:41:23.019><c> sound</c> 00:41:23.260 --> 00:41:30.539 like<00:41:23.519><c> way</c><00:41:23.920><c> too</c><00:41:24.219><c> good.</c><00:41:29.059><c> We're</c><00:41:29.239><c> going</c><00:41:29.380><c> to</c><00:41:29.460><c> skip</c><00:41:29.679><c> this.</c> 00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:38.139 Here's<00:41:32.800><c> how</c><00:41:33.199><c> Constantine's</c><00:41:33.980><c> biographer</c><00:41:34.599><c> Eusebius</c><00:41:35.559><c> describes</c><00:41:36.500><c> Constantine's</c><00:41:37.599><c> rule.</c><00:41:38.019><c> By</c> 00:41:38.139 --> 00:41:38.980 the<00:41:38.300><c> time</c><00:41:38.480><c> he</c><00:41:38.659><c> had</c> 00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:43.760 eliminated<00:41:39.699><c> his</c><00:41:41.780><c> counterparts,</c><00:41:42.679><c> the</c><00:41:42.840><c> pagan</c><00:41:43.099><c> counterparts</c> 00:41:43.760 --> 00:41:47.719 and<00:41:44.539><c> had</c><00:41:44.820><c> now</c><00:41:45.300><c> done</c><00:41:45.559><c> things</c><00:41:45.940><c> to</c><00:41:46.280><c> favor</c><00:41:46.800><c> the</c><00:41:47.300><c> Christians,</c> 00:41:47.719 --> 00:41:52.059 here's<00:41:48.139><c> how</c><00:41:48.460><c> Eusebius</c><00:41:48.980><c> describes</c><00:41:50.300><c> Constantine's</c><00:41:51.639><c> kingdom</c> 00:41:52.059 --> 00:41:54.599 and<00:41:52.920><c> these</c><00:41:53.159><c> are</c><00:41:53.480><c> supposedly</c><00:41:53.900><c> the</c><00:41:54.099><c> words</c><00:41:54.280><c> of</c> 00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:57.719 Constantine<00:41:55.039><c> himself</c><00:41:55.559><c> that</c><00:41:55.800><c> Eusebius</c><00:41:56.320><c> has</c><00:41:56.579><c> recorded.</c><00:41:57.460><c> When</c> 00:41:57.719 --> 00:42:00.800 men<00:41:58.079><c> commend</c><00:41:58.480><c> my</c><00:41:58.820><c> services</c><00:41:59.400><c> which</c><00:41:59.780><c> owe</c><00:42:00.039><c> their</c><00:42:00.340><c> origin</c> 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:05.000 to<00:42:01.039><c> the</c><00:42:01.340><c> inspiration</c><00:42:01.860><c> of</c><00:42:02.099><c> heaven,</c><00:42:02.960><c> do</c><00:42:03.139><c> they</c><00:42:03.380><c> not</c><00:42:03.659><c> clearly</c><00:42:04.019><c> establish</c><00:42:04.619><c> the</c> 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.360 truth<00:42:05.320><c> that</c><00:42:05.840><c> God</c><00:42:06.159><c> is</c><00:42:06.400><c> the</c><00:42:06.619><c> cause</c><00:42:06.820><c> of</c><00:42:07.019><c> the</c> 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:11.460 exploits<00:42:07.760><c> I</c><00:42:08.000><c> have</c><00:42:08.139><c> performed?</c><00:42:09.460><c> Assuredly</c><00:42:10.059><c> they</c><00:42:10.260><c> do,</c><00:42:11.059><c> for</c><00:42:11.179><c> it</c> 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:13.739 belongs<00:42:11.739><c> to</c><00:42:11.980><c> God</c><00:42:12.179><c> to</c><00:42:12.420><c> do</c><00:42:12.599><c> whatever</c><00:42:13.079><c> is</c><00:42:13.380><c> best</c> 00:42:13.739 --> 00:42:18.820 and<00:42:14.440><c> man</c><00:42:14.900><c> to</c><00:42:15.199><c> perform</c><00:42:15.739><c> the</c><00:42:16.119><c> commands</c><00:42:16.599><c> of</c><00:42:16.960><c> God.</c><00:42:18.079><c> Now</c><00:42:18.260><c> this</c><00:42:18.380><c> is</c><00:42:18.619><c> a</c> 00:42:18.820 --> 00:42:21.239 fabulous<00:42:19.460><c> claim</c><00:42:19.920><c> that</c><00:42:20.340><c> Constantine</c><00:42:20.739><c> is</c><00:42:20.960><c> making.</c> 00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:25.239 In<00:42:21.719><c> other</c><00:42:21.920><c> words</c><00:42:22.139><c> he's</c><00:42:22.340><c> saying</c><00:42:22.760><c> God</c><00:42:23.320><c> is</c><00:42:23.599><c> working</c><00:42:23.920><c> through</c><00:42:24.320><c> me.</c> 00:42:25.460 --> 00:42:28.380 I<00:42:25.639><c> am</c><00:42:25.860><c> God's</c><00:42:26.440><c> representative</c><00:42:27.079><c> on</c><00:42:27.619><c> earth.</c> 00:42:28.460 --> 00:42:32.519 God<00:42:28.739><c> has</c><00:42:29.119><c> commandments.</c><00:42:30.000><c> I'm</c><00:42:30.340><c> simply</c><00:42:30.880><c> performing</c><00:42:31.519><c> what</c><00:42:32.239><c> God</c> 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:34.780 wants<00:42:32.880><c> me</c><00:42:33.619><c> to</c><00:42:33.820><c> do.</c> 00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:41.460 And<00:42:36.920><c> it</c><00:42:37.400><c> goes</c><00:42:37.699><c> on.</c><00:42:38.199><c> Michael</c><00:42:38.500><c> Grant</c><00:42:38.900><c> now</c><00:42:39.460><c> describing</c><00:42:40.119><c> Constantine's</c><00:42:41.219><c> kingdom.</c> 00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:43.000 Constantine's<00:42:42.519><c> conversion</c> 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:46.099 which<00:42:43.179><c> had</c><00:42:43.559><c> prompted</c><00:42:43.920><c> the</c><00:42:44.179><c> Christian</c><00:42:44.559><c> revolution</c><00:42:45.219><c> was</c><00:42:45.820><c> seen</c> 00:42:46.099 --> 00:42:49.300 by<00:42:46.460><c> Petrarch</c><00:42:46.920><c> in</c><00:42:47.099><c> the</c><00:42:47.239><c> 14th</c><00:42:47.820><c> century</c><00:42:48.199><c> as</c><00:42:48.800><c> the</c><00:42:49.059><c> great</c> 00:42:49.300 --> 00:42:53.440 dividing<00:42:49.679><c> line</c><00:42:50.380><c> between</c><00:42:51.179><c> antiquity</c><00:42:52.019><c> and</c><00:42:52.420><c> the</c><00:42:52.639><c> ages</c><00:42:52.940><c> that</c><00:42:53.260><c> lay</c> 00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:56.179 ahead<00:42:53.800><c> and</c><00:42:54.300><c> indeed</c><00:42:54.659><c> he</c><00:42:54.900><c> had</c><00:42:55.219><c> brought</c><00:42:55.420><c> a</c><00:42:55.719><c> whole</c><00:42:55.900><c> new</c> 00:42:56.179 --> 00:42:59.320 world<00:42:56.460><c> into</c><00:42:56.760><c> being.</c><00:42:57.880><c> Constantine</c><00:42:58.079><c> himself</c><00:42:58.539><c> was</c><00:42:58.860><c> profoundly</c> 00:42:59.320 --> 00:43:03.119 aware<00:42:59.800><c> of</c><00:43:00.260><c> the</c><00:43:00.559><c> vastness</c><00:43:01.099><c> and</c><00:43:01.380><c> holiness</c><00:43:01.699><c> of</c><00:43:02.000><c> his</c><00:43:02.239><c> task.</c> 00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:07.760 He<00:43:03.400><c> saw</c><00:43:03.699><c> himself</c><00:43:04.199><c> as</c><00:43:04.539><c> the</c><00:43:04.800><c> 13th</c><00:43:05.440><c> apostle</c><00:43:05.840><c> of</c><00:43:06.059><c> Jesus</c><00:43:06.599><c> and</c><00:43:07.219><c> God's</c> 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:11.280 messianic<00:43:08.360><c> regent</c><00:43:08.860><c> upon</c><00:43:09.239><c> earth.</c><00:43:10.400><c> How</c><00:43:10.880><c> fitting</c> 00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:14.719 that<00:43:11.900><c> the</c><00:43:12.079><c> vision</c><00:43:12.300><c> that</c><00:43:12.579><c> John</c><00:43:12.880><c> saw</c><00:43:13.400><c> should</c><00:43:13.820><c> describe</c><00:43:14.360><c> things</c> 00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:16.599 in<00:43:14.900><c> terms</c><00:43:15.219><c> of</c><00:43:15.480><c> the</c><00:43:15.699><c> kingdom</c><00:43:15.920><c> of</c><00:43:16.119><c> God</c><00:43:16.380><c> being</c> 00:43:16.599 --> 00:43:21.179 established<00:43:17.099><c> by</c><00:43:17.380><c> one</c><00:43:17.619><c> ruling</c><00:43:18.119><c> with</c><00:43:18.539><c> a</c><00:43:18.719><c> rod</c><00:43:18.840><c> of</c><00:43:19.099><c> iron,</c><00:43:19.420><c> the</c><00:43:19.559><c> manchild</c><00:43:20.099><c> ascending</c><00:43:20.900><c> to</c> 00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:22.119 the<00:43:21.380><c> throne</c><00:43:21.539><c> of</c><00:43:21.820><c> God.</c> 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:26.380 But<00:43:22.739><c> of</c><00:43:22.940><c> course</c><00:43:23.119><c> it</c><00:43:23.219><c> was</c><00:43:23.480><c> just</c><00:43:23.920><c> a</c><00:43:24.199><c> parody</c><00:43:24.519><c> of</c><00:43:25.079><c> the</c><00:43:25.280><c> real</c><00:43:25.480><c> thing.</c> 00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:29.099 It<00:43:26.739><c> was</c><00:43:27.000><c> a</c><00:43:27.159><c> counterfeit</c><00:43:27.639><c> and</c><00:43:28.159><c> this</c><00:43:28.380><c> is</c><00:43:28.599><c> precisely</c> 00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:33.460 how<00:43:29.599><c> Constantine</c><00:43:30.340><c> portrays</c><00:43:31.119><c> himself</c><00:43:31.599><c> as</c><00:43:32.239><c> God's</c><00:43:32.860><c> messianic</c> 00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:36.760 regent<00:43:34.119><c> upon</c><00:43:34.639><c> earth.</c><00:43:34.820><c> He</c><00:43:34.960><c> was</c><00:43:35.219><c> actually</c><00:43:35.699><c> entombed</c> 00:43:36.760 --> 00:43:44.039 beside<00:43:37.199><c> 12</c><00:43:38.000><c> fake</c><00:43:38.900><c> coffins</c><00:43:39.579><c> of</c><00:43:39.820><c> the</c><00:43:40.039><c> 12</c><00:43:40.500><c> apostles</c><00:43:41.280><c> making</c><00:43:43.139><c> himself</c><00:43:43.699><c> the</c> 00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:47.320 13th<00:43:45.179><c> apostle</c><00:43:45.679><c> in</c><00:43:45.980><c> his</c><00:43:46.320><c> death.</c> 00:43:47.480 --> 00:43:53.380 So<00:43:47.639><c> he's</c><00:43:47.900><c> claiming</c><00:43:48.300><c> divine</c><00:43:48.820><c> authority</c><00:43:49.460><c> and</c><00:43:50.199><c> divine</c><00:43:50.659><c> assistance.</c><00:43:52.920><c> Eusebius</c> 00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:55.239 again<00:43:53.679><c> describing</c><00:43:54.360><c> Constantine's</c> 00:43:55.239 --> 00:43:59.039 kingdom.<00:43:55.960><c> These</c><00:43:56.260><c> things</c><00:43:56.579><c> were</c><00:43:56.940><c> foretold</c><00:43:57.460><c> in</c><00:43:57.739><c> words</c><00:43:58.000><c> long</c><00:43:58.400><c> ago</c> 00:43:59.039 --> 00:44:02.199 referring<00:43:59.480><c> to</c><00:43:59.719><c> the</c><00:43:59.860><c> Old</c><00:44:00.039><c> Testament</c><00:44:00.539><c> and</c><00:44:01.760><c> set</c><00:44:01.960><c> down</c> 00:44:02.199 --> 00:44:06.239 sacred<00:44:02.719><c> books</c><00:44:03.139><c> but</c><00:44:03.719><c> the</c><00:44:03.960><c> fulfillment</c><00:44:04.500><c> has</c><00:44:04.840><c> reached</c><00:44:05.119><c> us</c><00:44:05.400><c> no</c><00:44:05.639><c> longer</c><00:44:05.900><c> by</c> 00:44:06.239 --> 00:44:08.800 hearsay<00:44:06.679><c> but</c><00:44:06.860><c> in</c><00:44:07.199><c> fact</c><00:44:07.420><c> it</c><00:44:08.139><c> looked</c><00:44:08.460><c> like</c> 00:44:08.800 --> 00:44:12.599 the<00:44:09.039><c> very</c><00:44:09.420><c> image</c><00:44:09.719><c> of</c><00:44:09.920><c> the</c><00:44:10.099><c> kingdom</c><00:44:10.340><c> of</c><00:44:10.599><c> Christ</c><00:44:11.019><c> and</c><00:44:11.519><c> was</c><00:44:11.739><c> altogether</c><00:44:12.219><c> more</c> 00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:14.800 like<00:44:12.840><c> a</c><00:44:13.079><c> dream</c><00:44:13.300><c> than</c><00:44:13.480><c> a</c><00:44:13.699><c> reality.</c> 00:44:15.159 --> 00:44:18.619 Eusebius<00:44:15.599><c> now</c><00:44:15.900><c> describing</c><00:44:16.500><c> Constantine's</c><00:44:17.579><c> kingdom</c><00:44:17.900><c> as</c><00:44:18.440><c> if</c> 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:21.579 it's<00:44:18.880><c> the</c><00:44:19.320><c> kingdom</c><00:44:19.840><c> of</c><00:44:20.260><c> Christ</c><00:44:20.760><c> and</c><00:44:21.320><c> of</c><00:44:21.460><c> course</c> 00:44:21.579 --> 00:44:26.480 it<00:44:21.679><c> was</c><00:44:21.860><c> all</c><00:44:22.219><c> propaganda.</c><00:44:23.820><c> Again</c><00:44:24.219><c> Constantine's</c><00:44:25.099><c> just</c><00:44:25.360><c> tapping</c><00:44:25.599><c> into</c> 00:44:26.480 --> 00:44:28.980 a<00:44:26.880><c> vein</c><00:44:27.079><c> of</c><00:44:27.480><c> sympathy</c><00:44:28.219><c> throughout</c><00:44:28.639><c> the</c> 00:44:28.980 --> 00:44:33.619 part.<00:44:30.099><c> Here's</c><00:44:30.599><c> the</c><00:44:31.500><c> the</c><00:44:31.539><c> historian</c><00:44:31.860><c> Gibbon.</c><00:44:32.619><c> We're</c><00:44:32.679><c> coming</c><00:44:32.880><c> to</c><00:44:33.199><c> a</c> 00:44:33.619 --> 00:44:35.519 conclusion<00:44:34.039><c> now.</c><00:44:34.880><c> The</c><00:44:34.900><c> doctrine</c><00:44:35.300><c> of</c> 00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:38.179 Christ's<00:44:36.039><c> region</c><00:44:36.199><c> upon</c><00:44:36.519><c> earth</c><00:44:36.739><c> was</c><00:44:36.960><c> at</c><00:44:37.179><c> first</c><00:44:37.440><c> treated</c><00:44:37.699><c> as</c><00:44:37.920><c> a</c> 00:44:38.179 --> 00:44:41.280 profound<00:44:38.599><c> allegory,</c><00:44:39.719><c> was</c><00:44:39.980><c> considered</c><00:44:40.360><c> by</c><00:44:40.679><c> degrees</c><00:44:40.980><c> as</c> 00:44:41.280 --> 00:44:46.019 a<00:44:41.480><c> doubtful</c><00:44:41.860><c> and</c><00:44:42.059><c> useless</c><00:44:42.400><c> opinion,</c><00:44:43.559><c> and</c><00:44:43.900><c> was</c><00:44:44.139><c> at</c><00:44:44.400><c> length</c><00:44:44.639><c> rejected</c><00:44:45.260><c> as</c> 00:44:46.019 --> 00:44:48.860 the<00:44:46.340><c> absurd</c><00:44:46.739><c> invention</c><00:44:47.320><c> of</c><00:44:47.619><c> heresy</c><00:44:48.380><c> and</c> 00:44:48.860 --> 00:44:52.420 fanaticism.<00:44:50.500><c> Constantine</c><00:44:50.960><c> and</c><00:44:51.159><c> his</c><00:44:51.380><c> biographer</c><00:44:51.920><c> are</c><00:44:52.139><c> saying</c> 00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:55.019 the<00:44:52.679><c> kingdom</c><00:44:52.900><c> is</c><00:44:53.199><c> now</c><00:44:53.539><c> and</c><00:44:54.219><c> eventually</c><00:44:54.739><c> the</c> 00:44:55.019 --> 00:44:58.179 start<00:44:55.579><c> thinking</c><00:44:56.139><c> the</c><00:44:56.780><c> kingdom</c><00:44:57.079><c> is</c><00:44:57.360><c> now.</c><00:44:57.619><c> It's</c><00:44:57.719><c> not</c><00:44:57.880><c> something</c> 00:44:58.179 --> 00:45:00.079 we're<00:44:58.420><c> looking</c><00:44:58.679><c> for</c><00:44:58.940><c> in</c><00:44:59.079><c> the</c><00:44:59.239><c> future,</c> 00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:05.059 it's<00:45:00.599><c> happened</c><00:45:00.800><c> now.</c><00:45:02.159><c> And</c><00:45:02.320><c> of</c><00:45:02.440><c> course</c><00:45:02.539><c> this</c><00:45:02.739><c> had</c><00:45:03.659><c> negative,</c> 00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:07.480 serious<00:45:05.599><c> negative</c><00:45:05.980><c> consequences</c><00:45:06.639><c> for</c> 00:45:07.659 --> 00:45:11.760 beliefs<00:45:08.199><c> and</c><00:45:08.500><c> understanding</c><00:45:08.960><c> of</c><00:45:09.119><c> the</c><00:45:09.340><c> truth</c><00:45:10.199><c> amongst</c><00:45:11.400><c> those</c> 00:45:11.760 --> 00:45:14.159 who<00:45:11.980><c> didn't</c><00:45:12.239><c> really</c><00:45:12.599><c> hold</c><00:45:13.019><c> that</c><00:45:13.500><c> firmly</c><00:45:13.780><c> onto</c> 00:45:14.159 --> 00:45:16.739 the<00:45:14.420><c> truth.</c><00:45:15.099><c> The</c><00:45:15.280><c> interesting</c><00:45:15.639><c> thing</c><00:45:15.880><c> is</c><00:45:16.019><c> that</c><00:45:16.219><c> Constantine</c> 00:45:16.739 --> 00:45:20.699 turns<00:45:17.079><c> into</c><00:45:17.460><c> a</c><00:45:17.800><c> persecutor.</c><00:45:19.300><c> He</c><00:45:19.599><c> was</c><00:45:20.099><c> initially</c> 00:45:20.699 --> 00:45:25.460 favorable<00:45:21.300><c> to</c><00:45:21.500><c> the</c><00:45:21.699><c> Christians</c><00:45:22.019><c> but</c><00:45:22.260><c> then</c><00:45:22.420><c> he</c><00:45:22.579><c> starts</c><00:45:23.239><c> persecuting</c><00:45:24.579><c> splinter</c><00:45:25.079><c> groups</c> 00:45:25.460 --> 00:45:26.260 or<00:45:25.639><c> what</c><00:45:25.760><c> he</c><00:45:26.039><c> called</c> 00:45:26.260 --> 00:45:31.400 heretics,<00:45:26.980><c> those</c><00:45:27.239><c> who</c><00:45:27.440><c> weren't</c><00:45:27.639><c> holding</c><00:45:27.960><c> to</c><00:45:28.219><c> what</c><00:45:28.360><c> was</c><00:45:28.760><c> defined</c><00:45:29.119><c> as</c><00:45:30.460><c> orthodox</c><00:45:31.139><c> or</c> 00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:33.780 traditional<00:45:32.199><c> Christian</c><00:45:32.900><c> view.</c> 00:45:34.059 --> 00:45:37.239 And<00:45:34.320><c> so</c><00:45:34.539><c> we're</c><00:45:34.900><c> probably</c><00:45:35.159><c> going</c><00:45:35.360><c> to</c><00:45:35.539><c> finish</c><00:45:35.739><c> off</c><00:45:36.019><c> on</c><00:45:36.199><c> this</c><00:45:36.579><c> slide</c><00:45:36.880><c> here.</c><00:45:37.179><c> It</c> 00:45:37.239 --> 00:45:38.280 says<00:45:37.480><c> Constantine,</c> 00:45:38.739 --> 00:45:43.019 the<00:45:39.260><c> persecutor,</c><00:45:39.820><c> the</c><00:45:39.840><c> new</c><00:45:40.039><c> position</c><00:45:40.460><c> which</c><00:45:40.800><c> Christianity</c><00:45:41.300><c> had</c><00:45:41.579><c> acquired</c><00:45:41.920><c> in</c><00:45:42.059><c> the</c><00:45:42.219><c> world</c><00:45:42.380><c> made</c><00:45:42.579><c> a</c><00:45:42.840><c> greater</c> 00:45:43.019 --> 00:45:46.179 difference<00:45:43.579><c> to</c><00:45:44.179><c> the</c><00:45:44.460><c> character</c><00:45:44.739><c> of</c><00:45:45.019><c> Christianity</c><00:45:45.539><c> than</c><00:45:46.019><c> it</c> 00:45:46.179 --> 00:45:48.400 did<00:45:46.300><c> to</c><00:45:46.480><c> the</c><00:45:46.699><c> character</c><00:45:47.059><c> of</c><00:45:47.320><c> the</c><00:45:47.519><c> world.</c><00:45:48.000><c> Almost</c> 00:45:48.400 --> 00:45:53.079 immediately<00:45:48.940><c> after</c><00:45:49.360><c> having</c><00:45:49.760><c> undergone</c><00:45:50.219><c> persecution</c><00:45:50.900><c> itself,</c><00:45:51.800><c> the</c><00:45:52.059><c> church</c><00:45:52.360><c> began</c><00:45:52.699><c> to</c> 00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:53.960 instigate<00:45:53.460><c> the</c><00:45:53.679><c> rulers</c> 00:45:53.960 --> 00:46:00.320 of<00:45:54.199><c> the</c><00:45:54.360><c> world</c><00:45:54.679><c> to</c><00:45:55.639><c> persecute</c><00:45:56.639><c> on</c><00:45:57.019><c> its</c><00:45:57.559><c> behalf.</c><00:45:58.940><c> So</c><00:45:59.260><c> Constantine</c><00:45:59.639><c> now</c><00:45:59.860><c> is</c><00:46:00.059><c> going</c><00:46:00.179><c> to</c> 00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:02.380 be<00:46:00.559><c> used</c><00:46:01.119><c> by</c><00:46:01.679><c> orthodox</c> 00:46:02.380 --> 00:46:06.159 Christians<00:46:02.860><c> influenced</c><00:46:03.460><c> by</c><00:46:03.719><c> people</c><00:46:03.980><c> like</c><00:46:04.300><c> Clement</c><00:46:04.639><c> and</c><00:46:05.000><c> Origen</c><00:46:05.699><c> with</c> 00:46:06.159 --> 00:46:09.239 false<00:46:06.539><c> ideas</c><00:46:07.139><c> to</c><00:46:07.780><c> persecute</c><00:46:08.519><c> those</c><00:46:08.960><c> that</c> 00:46:09.239 --> 00:46:12.360 weren't<00:46:09.519><c> adhering</c><00:46:10.079><c> to</c><00:46:10.679><c> those</c><00:46:11.059><c> same</c><00:46:11.440><c> ideas.</c><00:46:11.840><c> In</c><00:46:11.980><c> other</c><00:46:12.099><c> words,</c> 00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:14.940 persecuting<00:46:13.000><c> those</c><00:46:13.619><c> who,</c><00:46:14.159><c> like</c><00:46:14.420><c> ourselves,</c> 00:46:14.940 --> 00:46:19.340 were<00:46:15.159><c> holding</c><00:46:15.500><c> on</c><00:46:16.179><c> to</c><00:46:16.619><c> the</c><00:46:17.199><c> truth</c><00:46:17.460><c> of</c><00:46:17.699><c> the</c><00:46:17.820><c> scriptures.</c><00:46:19.059><c> We're</c> 00:46:19.340 --> 00:46:21.280 going<00:46:19.460><c> to</c><00:46:19.679><c> leave</c><00:46:19.860><c> off</c><00:46:20.079><c> there</c><00:46:20.280><c> and</c><00:46:20.400><c> pick</c><00:46:20.579><c> up</c><00:46:20.780><c> tomorrow</c> 00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:24.059 where<00:46:21.719><c> we</c><00:46:21.880><c> left</c><00:46:22.099><c> off.</c><00:46:22.340><c> Thanks</c><00:46:22.559><c> very</c><00:46:22.780><c> much</c><00:46:22.960><c> for</c><00:46:23.119><c> your</c><00:46:23.280><c> attention.</c>