Revelation 4 The Throne in Heaven 

Ch. 4  The Throne in Heaven

·         1: As you read these two passages, try your best to detach from the world around you and to visualize what this might have been like to experience.  The grandeur of this scene and this moment is history is literally beyond imagination!  Oh, how our lives would be different if we really took the reality of God and His greatness and holiness to heart.  Read this slowly and try your best to take it all in! 

·         1: What does verse 1 tell us that is very important?  [Starting here, the perspective of the book of Revelation changes.  Earlier, the letter was directed to seven churches in Asia Minor almost 2,000 years ago.  But starting with chapter 4, the scene is now in heaven (“come up here”) and in the future (“I will show you what must take place after this.”)] 

·         2,5: The throne of God is prominent in these visions.  What does a throne always represent?  [Authority.  God has a throne because He sits in supreme kingly authority over all creation.]  If God is in authority over all things, does that include you?  Is this optional?   

·         3: The stone we call “jasper” today is a dull opaque stone, however in the ancient world jasper seems to have been a translucent rock crystal, like a diamond.  The “sardius” (NASB) or “carnelelian”  (NIV) was blood red.  The emerald is the green stone we know. 

·         4: Some believe that these 24 elders are human beings who represent the rest of redeemed humanity.  Some suggest that they stand for the 12 tribes of Israel plus the 12 Apostles.  Others think that they are a very high order of angelic being. 

·         5: This verse points to the awesome power and majesty of God.   

·         6-8: The “Four Living Creatures” are some sort of special angelic beings.  They are similar to beings that Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel 1, except those four creatures each had four faces, the front of the head being a man, the right side being a lion, the left being a ox, and the back being an eagle.  Each of the creatures in Ezekiel had four wings but the creatures in Revelation each have six wings.  Because they have six wings, some people think these creatures might have been seraphs, a special type of angel found also in Isaiah 6.  In Isaiah 6, they were coving their faces, so we don’t know what they looked like.  They might be a type of angel, or they might be an entirely different type of spirit being altogether.  It is wild to imagine that creatures like this actually exist!  Whatever they are, they are very powerful and very close to God’s throne.   

·         6-8: Some commentators make the point that these four creatures represent what is noblest (lion), strongest (ox), wisest (man), and swiftest (eagle) in nature.  Others have tried to find some symbolic meaning linking each of the four creatures with one of the four gospels.  That seems unlikely. 

·         8-11: As we go through Revelation, pay special attention to the worship.  What is being said?  How is it being said?  What makes their worship different from our worship?   

·         8: What is the content of the worship in verse 8?  [God is three-times holy!  What does that mean?  What does it mean that He is “who was, and is, and is to come”?] 

·         10: The elders would keep presenting their crowns before the Lord.  (Stephanos = a crown of victory, usually made from leaves, but here they are golden. See 1 Cor. 9:24-27) Why are they laying their crowns down before God?  [They are giving all the credit to God.]  Some people use this verse to say “It really doesn’t matter about rewards in heaven because we’re just going to give them back to God.”  However, even if these elders are human, notice that they get to keep giving their crowns to God over and over.  One of the rewards that the Bible presents for believers is crowns.  In heaven, we will want to use them for God’s glory, not our own.  Yet, think of the privilege and satisfaction of having a crown to be able to lay down before God in worship.  (For a good book on rewards in heaven, see Your Eternal Reward by Erwin Lutzer.  It is in the library.) 

·         11: What is the content of the worship in verse 11?  What does this say about God? 

·         11: What does it mean that God is worthy?  [Worship is about having hearts that view God as worthy, not only of our praise, but worthy of living our lives as if He is our highest treasure.  When we sin, we are making a statement that God is not worth it.  But when we live for God, especially when it is hard, we make a statement that He is worth it!  Suffering provides us with the greatest chance to proclaim that God is truly worth it all.] 

·         11: What does this say about God as creator?   

Revelation 5 Worthy to Open the Scroll 

Ch. 5 The Scroll and the Lamb

·         1-4: You need to read this passage with your imagination in order to feel the sense of drama here.  Why do you think John wept?  Why do you think that no one was found who was worthy to break the seals?   [One idea: The scroll contained the declaration for the end of the world.  If there was no one worthy to open it, the end could never come and this screwed up world would continue forever.  Like John, we should ache and long for the age to come!  If time, read Romans 8:18-25.  No matter what, it really emphasizes the fact of Christ’s unique and incredible worthiness.  We shouldn’t take that for granted.] 

·         5: What do you think John felt when one of the elders said to him, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah… He is able to open the seven seals!”  Don’t miss the meaning here. No one was found worthy… except for Christ.   

·         5: Who is the Lion of Judah, the root of Jesse?  What does this mean?  [This is Jesus Christ.  These names are references to Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.  Read Genesis 49:8-12 for the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line of Judah.  Read Isaiah 11:1-10 for part of the prophecy that the Messiah will be from the line of Jesse, the father of King David.] 

·         6: Why is Jesus called a Lamb?  [See Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, and 1 Peter 1:19]  What is the importance of the words “looking as if he had been slain?”  [Jesus was the Lamb of God who died for us.] 

·         6: The number seven often indicated perfection.  The seven horns indicate perfect power.  The seven eyes indicate perfect knowledge.  Although Christ is the one who has been slain, He also is risen and reigns with perfect power and knowledge.    

·         6: Lesson on biblical interpretation: The good rule of thumb is that we should always take things as literal if the normal sense makes common sense.  Do you think this passage is trying to paint a visual picture of what Christ looks like if you took a photograph of Him?  [I think it is safe to assume that this passage is about what Christ is like, but not a visual picture of what He looks like.  John specifically indicates that the seven eyes stand for something else, so we know that particular details about the eyes, and probably horns, are symbolic of something true rather than a simple picture of what Christ looked like.] 

·         7-12: According to verses 7-12, why is the Lamb worthy to take the scroll? 

·         9-14: Describe the worship found here. (Imagine what the worship in heaven will be like.)  Talk about the content of the worship here.  What is being said?  Who is always the subject?  [This worship is always about God, and always to God.] 

·         9: Jesus purchases people with His blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation.  What are important points here? 

o        Jesus purchased us.  Jesus bought us back.  He paid the price, not us.  He gets the glory, not us.

o        Further, the cost of our salvation was Jesus’ own life-blood.  Salvation is free to us, but it didn’t come cheap.  This also means that those who say that Jesus’ “blood” wasn’t necessary for salvation are denying the gospel.  God is holy and the only way that God could forgive us and remain a God of holiness and justice was for Christ to pay the price in our place. 

o        The Gospel is for every race and nation, not just white America.  If you’re racist, you better get over it, because Heaven will not be made up only of people who look like you.  God is not a racist and He does not want to be glorified by only some people-groups.  God wants the gospel message to go to every people-group in the world.  Missions is about God being glorified in all the people-groups of the world. 

·         10: An important part of the Reformation was the teaching of the “priesthood of all believers.”  All believers are priests, able to serve God and stand before Him.  In the Old Testament the priests represented the people to God.  However, in the New Testament functioning, all Christians are able to go directly to God. 

·         11-13: What else is Christ praised for here?  Also, remember to read this passage with the imagination that God gave you so that you can picture this in your mind.  Think of the number of angels that are said to be worshipping Christ here.  It is not a small number.  If all of this is in your mind more than other things (like what?) how will it change how you live your life?   

·         Jehovah Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is truly God.  They believe that Jesus is the greatest of all created beings.  They believe that only God the Father (who they call by the name Jehovah) is God and only God should be worshiped.    How does this passage support or refute their view?  [This passage is clearly about Jesus being worshipped in Heaven.  If Jehovah’s witnesses believe that only God is to be worshipped, then this passage proves that Jesus is fully God.]

Revelation 6 The Scroll Judgments 

vs. 6:1-8  The Horsemen of the Apocalypse

·         1-2: The first seal: The rider on the white horse represents a conquest that will take place near the beginning of the Tribulation period.  Although some believe this rider to be Christ because of the white horse, it is more likely that the rider is the Antichrist.  The Greek prefix for “anti” means “against” or “in place of.”  The Antichrist will be both: He is the enemy of Christ and will try act as if he were the Messiah.  (Example: the white horse imitates Christ who will return on a white horse in Rev. 19:11.)  The Antichrist will convince the world that he is good and that he is the answer to their time of trouble brought about by the rapture.  Read Daniel 9:27: The Tribulation is initiated when the Antichrist, who will controls much of the world at that time, signs a covenant with Israel ensuring Israel’s safety.  However, halfway through the Tribulation, he will enter the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, declare himself to be the Messiah, and demand that the world worship him. (There will be more information on the Antichrist later on.) 

·         3-4: The second seal: The rider on the red horse brings massive war to the world.  According to the premillenial view, after the Antichrist and his revived Roman empire ensure the safety with Israel, Israel will use this as an opportunity to finally rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.  It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD (as Jesus predicted in Mt. 24:2) and has never been rebuilt.  After the Muslims conquered Jerusalem, they built the “Dome of the Rock” on the spot where the temple had been.  Because the Dome of the Rock is the second most holy site in the Muslim world (after Mecca, the birth place of Mohammed) there is no way the Jews can rebuild the temple now without starting the biggest religious war the world has ever seen.  However once the Antichrist ensures Israel’s safety, they will rebuild the temple. (It gets rebuilt sometime in the first half of the Tribulation.)  There is a good chance that the wars brought about by the rider on the red horse include a huge war consisting of the Antichrist’s empire against the entire Muslim world. 

·         5-6: The third seal: The rider on the black horse brings famine and starvation.  In all probability, this is at least partially the result of the wars.  The price of food will be increased so high that the amount of money that a man earns in one day will only be enough to buy food just for himself, with nothing left over for his family or to pay other bills.  It would be like having a single can of soup cost $100.  However, (unnecessary) foods like oil and wine will still be plentiful (but impossible to live on.)  This might mean that the rich will still have all they want, but everyone else will be starving. 

·         7-8: The fourth seal: The rider on the pale horse brings death and ushered people into the Hades, the afterlife.  This is the obvious result of war and famine.  Between sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts, one fourth of the world’s population will die during this time.  At the current population, it would be about 1 ½ billion people.  (Think of a million people dying 1,500 times over!)

vs. 6:9-17  The Souls of the Martyrs

·         9-11: The fifth seal: During the Old Testament sacrifices, the life-blood of the sacrifices collected beneath the altar.  Here, the souls of those who had died for Christ are pictured as being beneath the altar, indicating that their lives had been sacrificed for Christ.  Christ assured them that they will be avenged when the full number is complete.  It is great to know that Christ will settle the score for all the injustice we face for Christ in this life.  That should be a great motivation to help us persevere for Him.  However, we always need to remember that it is in God’s timing, not ours.  For the moment, there will be injustice and score will remain unsettled.  (C.f. Romans 12:19).   

·         9: According to verse 9, why were the martyrs killed?  [Because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained.]  Some things are not worth dying for.  Is the Word of God worth dying for?  Is the Gospel worth dying for?   

·         10: When the martyrs cry out in verse 10 what is the first thing that say to describe God?  Why might that be significant?  [They call God sovereign.  This means that God is in complete control over all events. Including their own deaths.  We need to remember this as well.  Even when things seems to be against God’s people, He is still in control.  Verse 11 even indicates that God has designated the exact number of those who would be killed as martyrs.] 

·         12-14: The sixth seal brings huge natural disaster to the earth such as earthquakes and intense meteor showers (the stars falling from the sky.)  Because of meteor hits, the intense earthquakes, and the volcanic activity that would accompany this, there will be huge amounts of ash and debris thrown into the atmosphere darkening the sun and moon.  (It is also possible that this could be related to nuclear weapons being used.) 

·         15-17: How will people respond to these judgments, according to verses 15-17?  What does this tell you?  What kind of people are described in this verse?  [All kinds, even the powerful.]  What does it tell you that sinners would rather have a mountain fall of them than be confronted by the face of a holy God?   

·         16-17: Verses 16-17 describe the wrath of the seal judgments as being from whom?  [This is God’s wrath.  Verse 16 even says that it is the “wrath of the Lamb.”  This seems oxymoronic because we usually think of a lamb as being meek and mild.]  These verses are important because some of the rapture views other than the pre-tribulation view argue that the first judgments are the wrath of Satan and the wrath of man, but not the wrath of God.  They argue this because of the passages that teach that God’s wrath in the Tribulation is not for the church.  In Revelation 3:10 God promises to keep the church from the hour of trial that is going come upon the whole earth.   In the context of the Day of the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  But since Rev. 6:16-17 indicates that these judgments are also the wrath of the Lamb, this is evidence in favor of the pre-tribulation rapture view.

⁹After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God,  who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." ¹¹All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

¹³Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"  ¹⁴I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. ¹⁶Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
 ¹⁷For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7 The 144,000 

vs. 1-12 The 144,000 sealed

·         1-3: This chapter is a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seal judgments.  In these verses we get a picture of things happening on earth in the invisible dimension of the angels.  Four angels are seen in place at four spots on the compass controlling the weather.  Another angel comes with the instrument used to place a seal on the foreheads of the servants of God.  This seal (probably invisible) shows God’s ownership of these believers and will protect them from certain harms during the tribulation. 

·         1-3: Are you sealed?  Read Ephesians 1:13-14.  If you have believed in Christ as your savior, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.  This seal indicates that we are “God’s possession” and it “guarantees our inheritance.”  (This is another strong reason why I believe that a true believer can never lose his salvation.)   

·         4-8: Some people see the 144,000 as symbolic of the perfect number of believers (12 x 12 x 1000 = 144,000).  However, others see no reason to take this symbolically and therefore see these as 144,000 Jews who will turn to their Messiah and be saved.  Although most Jewish people currently reject Christ, God has not cast off His chosen people.  Look at Romans 11.  Although God has currently transferred His primary dealings to the Gentiles, during the Tribulation He will transfer His primary dealings back to Israel resulting is a massive flood of Jewish people being saved.  It seems that these 144,000 are Hebrews who become Christians and evangelists.   

·         4-8: The Jehovah’s Witnesses falsely believe that only 144,000 people will actually make it to heaven.  All other Jehovah Witnesses will only ever experience the blessings of life on the earth after they are resurrected.  (The Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in “soul sleep” so between death and the resurrection people experience nothing at all.)  For more on the Jehovah’s Witnesses, see What The Cults Believe by Irvine Robertson (in the Youth Group library) or visit www.aomin.org.   

·         9-12: What can you learn from the worship in verses 10-12?  What does it tell you about God?  What can you learn about worship from observing the heavenly worship in these verses?

vs. 13-17 robes washed in the blood of the Lamb

·         13-14: An enormous amount of people will be saved during the Tribulation, but an enormous amount of Christians will also be killed. 

·         14: You wouldn’t think that washing something in blood would make it white.  What does it mean that these people had their robes made white by the blood of the Lamb?  How would you explain that to someone who had never heard that phrase before?  (What do each of these represent: robes, washed, white, blood, Lamb?)  [Our robes are our righteousness or lack of righteousness.  We are either clothed in sin, or clothed in righteousness.  It represents our legal standing before God.  Washed means that there is a change for the better, a removal of the stain of guilt.  The Greek verb here indicated that this is a once-for-all action.  White represents purity, holiness and righteousness.  Blood represents the death of Christ.  Christ shed His blood to die on the cross to take the legal penalty for our sin in our place.  The Lamb is Jesus Christ.  Just as a lamb was killed in the Passover as a sacrifice, so to Jesus offered Himself to be killed as a sacrifice for us.  The sacrificial lambs of the Old Testament were foreshadows of Christ, the true Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.] 

·         15-17: What things stand out to you from verses 15-17?  What does this say about the eternal comfort and protection that God will give to His people?   

·         15: It is only because these people are clothed in the righteousness of Christ that they are able to stand before the throne of God.   

·         15: The image of a tent reminds us of the tabernacle of worship in the desert.  In addition to God’s presence, it also communicated God’s protection. 

·         16-17: What promises are given here?  Discuss each of them.

• Never again will they hunger or thirst.  (Most of us have never experience real hunger or thirst.  And the little that we did experience this, we knew it was only temporary.)
• Never again will the sun and heat beat on them.
• The Lamb at the center of the throne (highest power and authority) will be their shepherd (protector and provider). 
• He will lead them to springs of living water.  (He make sure their thirst is eternally satisfied.)
• God will wipe every tear from their eye.

⁶Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. ⁷The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
⁸The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, ⁹a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
¹⁰The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— ¹¹the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
¹²The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
¹³As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

Revelation 9:
¹The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. ²When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. ³And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ⁴They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. ⁶During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
⁷The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. ⁸Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. ⁹They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. ¹⁰They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. ¹¹They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon. ¹²The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. ¹³The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. ¹⁴It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." ¹⁵And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. ¹⁶The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.  ¹⁷The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. ¹⁸A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. ¹⁹The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.  ²⁰The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ²¹Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 8-9 The Trumpet Judgments 

Ch. 8  The Trumpet Judgments Begin (Seal #7, Trumpets #1-4)

·         1: The seventh seal is not another solitary judgment, but instead brings about the seven trumpet judgments. 

·         1: What do you think it will be like in heaven during this half hour of sudden dramatic silence?  

·         2: These “seven angels who stand before God” seem to be the seven highest ranking angels, having the privilege of standing before God’s throne.  In ancient Hebrew mythology, the names of these seven angels were Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, and Remiel.  However, only Gabriel and Michael the Archangel are actually mentioned in Scripture. 

·         3-5: Notice that our prayers are offered up to God as a sacrifice. 

·         7: The first trumpet unleashes a shower of hail and fire mixed with blood.  Some scholars think this might be related to more meteor showers or volcanic activity.  (Or it could be something completely supernatural.)  As a result of this one third of the land area of earth is burned up. 

·         8-9: The second trumpet causes something like a flaming mountain to fall into the sea, wrecking 1/3 of it.  This could be a massive meteor that hit the sea.  Some Bible scholars think that the “sea” is specifically the Mediterranean Sea.  Although a huge meteor falling into one of the major oceans (and the tsunamis that would result) would easily destroy 1/3 of the world’s ocean, especially if the meteor was composed of radioactive material or volatile chemicals. 

·         10-11: The third trumpet: Again this seems to be something like a meteor or a comet colliding with the earth.  This time it results in a third of the fresh water in the world is polluted.  (Wormwood is the name of a bitter plant.)  Possibly the object impacts deep into the earth at a place where it affects 1/3 of the underground springs.  More likely, I think that the object breaks up in the atmosphere and the fallout spreads over 1/3 of the world’s freshwater.    

·         12: The fourth trumpet: The darkening of a third of the sun, moon, and stars could be the result of ash of other pollutants in the atmosphere.  (But it always could be something more unusual.  Who knows.) 

·         13: Basically this eagle is saying, “And now for the really bad stuff”! 

Ch. 9 The Trumpet Judgments Continue (Trumpets #5-6)

·         1: The fifth trumpet: This time the “star” that falls from the sky is an angel with the key to the Abyss.  The Abyss seems to be an extradimensional realm in which demons are imprisoned.  (Jesus would send demons to the Abyss.)   

·         2-12: So, what could be worse that 1/3 of the earth, sea, and water being destroyed?  How about… demon-locusts!   

·         2-12: Out of the Abyss come beings that are somewhat like locusts.  In reality these seem to be demon-locusts.  People dreaded plagues of locusts because they would devour all plant life, even stripping the bark off of trees.  However these demon-locusts do the opposite; God does not allow them to harm any plant, but instead they attack people.  God does not permit them to kill, but only to torture.  People will long for death because of the demon-locusts, but not be able to find it.  (Kind of like when Hope made me watch “Sense and Sensibility” with her.)   

·         13-19: At the sixth trumpet, four angels (demons) were released who had been kept in some sort of extradimentional prison at the Euphrates River, near Israel.   They amassed an army of 200 million demon warriors who will go out and kill 1/3 of mankind.  (Their “horses” breathed fire and had tails that were like snakes which could reach out a bite people.)  If ¼ of the world’s population had already been killed by the fourth seal judgment, there population would be down from 6 billion to 4 ½ billion.  One third of 4 ½ billion is 1 ½ billion.  This means that another 1.5 billion people will be killed by the demon-warriors.  Total, this means that at least 3 billion of the world’s 6 billion people are dead. 

·         I think these creatures are demons, but some have suggested that the locusts or horses might be attack helicopters or tanks or something like that.  Time magazine reported in 1965 that China claimed to possess a 200-million-person militia.   

·         20-21: What are some of the specific sins that are mentioned in this verse?  Are these sins things that we ourselves should tolerate in our own lives?   

·         20-21: Think of how foolish and stubborn a child would be if he kept disobeying his parents even when being disciplined.  The child is receiving a spanking but just keeps doing what he wants to do and keeps making the situation worse for himself.  These verses tell us that humanity was so hardened and hateful against God that they would not stop their sin even with all of this going on.  It is bad enough when someone stops their sin (temporarily) only because of the consequences; but it is even worse when the consequences won’t even make them slow down!  Even all of these judgments was not enough to cause these people to repent!  Oh how hard the human heart can be!  (This only goes to show how “anti-God” we all are by nature.  Left on our own, we all despise God and His ways.  Read Romans 3:10-18.  There is no one who seeks God.  This is an incredibly important lesson from this passage.  The reason that people reject God is not ultimately because of a lack of knowledge, but because of stubborn sinfulness.  As Robert H. Mounce writes in his commentary on Revelation,

“Nowhere will you find a more accurate picture of sinful humanity pressed to the extreme.  One would think that the terrors of God’s wrath would bring rebels to their knees.  Not so.  Past the point of no return, they respond to greater punishment with increased rebellion.  Such is sinful nature untouched and unmoved by the mercies of God.”

^{Revelation 11:
1}I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. ²But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." ⁴These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. ⁵If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. ⁶These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. ⁷Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. ⁸Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. ⁹For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. ¹⁰The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth. ¹¹But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹²Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. ¹³At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. ¹⁴The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.  ¹⁵The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." ¹⁶And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. ¹⁸The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth." ¹⁹Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Revelation 10-11 The Two Witnesses 

Ch. 10 The Mighty Angel and the Scroll

·         1-4:  What do you think John heard in the seven thunders that he was about to write down?  [Trick question.  There’s no way you can know.  God said to keep it a secret.] 

·         6: What does verse 6 tell us about God? 

·         8-11: “Eating” the scroll was like digesting the message it contained.  The message is sweet, but also bitter.  

Ch. 11 The Two Witnesses

·         1-2: The Gentiles will trample the holy city (Jerusalem) for 42 months (3 ½ years.)   

·         3-6: These verses describe two witnesses will prophecy for God for 1,260 days (3 ½ years.)  There have been various attempts to figure out who these two witnesses might be. 

o        Some take these two witnessed to be purely symbolic.  They represent believers witnessing for Christ.

o        Some have guessed that they are Enoch and Elijah, because they were the only two people in Scripture to never have died (Genesis 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:11) while Hebrews 9:27 says, “man is destine to die once.”  However, 1 Cor. 15:51-52 tells us that not all will “sleep” (die) but we will all be changed.  That means that the believers who are alive at the rapture will not face normal death, but instead will be immediately changed into their resurrection bodies.  So, there are exceptions to the rule as far as everyone having to die.  Also, Enoch lived hundreds of years before Abraham and therefore was not a Jew.  It is more likely that these two witnesses are Jews speaking fellow Jews.

o        More likely, these two witnessed could be Moses and Elijah.  Notice that the powers that they have are very similar to miracles that Elijah and Moses each performed.  Moses turned the Nile into blood and sent various plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7-11.)  Elijah shut the sky so no rain would fall (1 Kings 17:1,7) and had his enemies consumed with fire (2 Kings 1:10-14.)  Also, take a look at Malachi 4:5-6, the last verses of the Old Testament.  There is an important prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 that Elijah would return before the “dreadful Day of the Lord.”  Many people believe that John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy before Jesus’ first coming.  Although John the Baptist came “in the power of Elijah” he specifically denied being Elijah (John 1:21.)  Both Elijah and Moses have something mysterious connected with their death and the passing of their body.  Elijah was taken directly into heaven (2 Kings 2:11.)  Moses died a natural death, but then Michael the Archangel fought Satan over Moses’ body (Jude vs. 9.)  In Matthew 17 when Jesus was transfigured, Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus.  Then in Mt. 17:10 the disciples ask why the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first.  Jesus answers, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him” talking about John the Baptist.  John the Baptist partially fulfilled the prophecy, but did not completely fulfill it.  For these reason, plus the fact that Moses and Elijah were two of the most cornerstone individuals for the Jewish people, there is a good chance that the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah.  (But it’s still just a guess.)

o        It is also entirely possible that the two witnesses are two “new” people, not figures from the past.  If they are not Moses and Elijah returned to earth, they are still modeled after them.  They are echoes of Moses and Elijah. 

·         5-13: After a year and a half of witnessing in Jerusalem (where the Lord was crucified), God allows for the “Beast” (the Antichrist) to kill the two witnesses.  Everyone is the world is so happy that they are finally dead that they celebrate and exchange presents like it’s Christmas.  The whole world will “gaze on their bodies” for three and a half days, celebrating their death.  They are left in the street to rot as an intentional act of indignity.  (Because of television it is now actually possibly for the whole world to do this.)  But then, suddenly God will bring them back to life and call them to heaven.   

·         5-13: Why do you think everyone in the world hated the two witnesses so much?  (A lot of the time, people don’t like being told the truth.)  Are you willing to tell people things they may not like to hear?  How does this chapter encourage you as you take a stand for God?   

·         11-13: How do you think the people felt as they were celebrating and exchanging presents, when suddenly the witnesses come to life and fly into heaven?  What do you think this makes them think? 

·         15-18: At the seventh trumpet, the announcement is made that God is beginning His reign on earth.  You know, when you pray the Lord’s Prayer and say “Thy Kingdom come.”  Well, that’s going to happen.  His Kingdom is going to come.  (He already rules the who world in a general sense, but in another sense, Satan is the ruler of this world (Eph. 2:2.)  Satan has it now, but Jesus is going to be coming to take it back! 

·         15-18: “We move daily nearer that day when human law will no longer dangle on the whim of tyrants or the will of a fickly majority or the compromises of political puppets, that day when the command of God and the righteousness of Christ will prevail in every sphere of life.  Although now only partly disclosed, Jesus in his rule is himself the kingdom of God until at ‘the end of days’ he will reign as King of the world and of all worlds.”  -Carl F.H. Henry, God, Revelation and Authority, Vol. 2, p. 37. 

·         17-18: What can you learn from the worship in these verses? 

·         19: Suddenly in heaven, God’s temple is opened and the Ark of the Covenant is seen.  (This is the “Lost Ark” like in Raiders of the Lost Ark.)  The Ark has not been seen since it was the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC.  The Ark is a symbol of God’s power, but even more importantly, of His covenant faithfulness.  (This may be the original Ark, supernaturally rescued to heaven by God.  Personally, I think that would be cool.  However, Hebrews 9:23 implies that the earthly temple was a copy of the heavenly temple, so the earthly Ark might have been just a copy of the original “real” Ark in heaven.)  

Revelation 12 The Woman and the Dragon 

Ch. 12 The Woman and the Dragon

·         1: A sign is a symbol that points to something else.  This lets us know that this portion of Revelation is figurative.   

·         1-6: The male child who is born who will rule the nations with an iron scepter is obviously Christ.  This means that the women with the crown of twelve stars is the nation of Israel, which produced the Messiah.  The twelve stars stand for the twelve tribes of Israel, like in Genesis 37:9.  The reference to the sun and the moon might point to Israel’s exalted status as God’s chosen people.  The dragon is certainly Satan (verse 9), who has been trying to destroy Israel and the Messiah from the beginning.  For example, when Christ was born King Herod had all of the young boys from Bethlehem killed, trying to kill the newborn Messiah (Matthew 2:16).  The heads, horns and crowns symbolize kingdoms and rulers.  In Daniel 7, the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7, 19-28) represents the then-future Roman Empire.  This beast has ten horns which Daniel 7:24 explains represent ten kings from ten kingdoms.  We will learn more about this when we see the description of the Beast in Revelation 13.   

·         4: Many people believe that the reference in vs. 4 to a third of the stars is a reference to Satan taking 1/3 of the angels with him when he rebelled against God.   

·         5: The Messianic Psalm, Psalm 2, it is written of the Messiah, “You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”  Rev. 12:5 says that the male child born here will rule all the nations with an iron scepter (a rod of iron).  This indicates that Christ will rule with unmatched strength.   

·         5-6: The male child is snatched up to the God and His throne.  Jesus ascended to Heaven 40 days after His resurrection.  At this point many interpreters believe that the passage skips forward to the Tribulation period.  Halfway through the Tribulation, the Antichrist will break his treaty with Israel and will demand worship (Daniel 7:25; 9:27; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13).  Verse 6 seems to indicate that God would provide a place for the remnant of Israel to hide and be protected for 3 ½ years during the Great Tribulation. 

·         7-8: Some think that this war between Satan and Michael was the original rebellion of Satan which occurred before the creation of earth.  However, I think it is more likely that it is a war that takes place during the Tribulation as Satan makes one last attempt to conquer heaven.  (Although Satan had been cast out of heaven before, He was still allowed some access from time to time, like in Job 1:6-7.)   

·         9: The word “devil” means accuser or slanderer.  Satan wants to slander God’s reputation and he wants to slander each of us in front of God.  He loves to accuse us of our sins and failures.  However, if Satan is our accuser, Jesus is our defense attorney!  (John 14:16: Jesus is our “paraclete” our counselor, advocate, or lawyer.  Romans 8:34 says that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.)  Verse 9 says that Satan leads the whole world astray.  In what ways is he doing that even now? 

·         10: What can you learn about Satan from this verse?  What can you learn about God from this verse? 

·         11: Christdefeated Satan by his death and resurrection.  Believers defeat Satan when they are willing to choose Christ over Satan’s temptations, especially when it means death.  But notice, they do not win the victory through their own strength.  What do they defeat Satan by?  [By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.]  What does do those mean?  [They defeated Satan because they clung to the promise that there is no condemnation for those that in Christ.  Because of Christ’s blood, shed on the cross for our sins, Satan is no longer have success accusing us of our sin.  We have been justified—declared righteous—by God.  Believers defeat Satan by trusting the blood of the Lamb, and by telling others about God’s offer of salvation—the word of our testimony.] 

·         11: Many people in history have died for Christ.  What choice would you make if it came down to that?  When would it be worth it?   

·         11: In verse 11, what did the people love more, their lives or Christ?  [They loved Christ more than their lives, even when it meant a painful death.]  If they loved their lives more, they wouldn’t have made the right choice.  To die (or live) for Christ, what things in your life do you need to love less?  

·         12: Since his first defeat, Satan has known that he isn’t going to win against God.  Although he keeps trying, he knows he can’t win.  His time is short, and so like a trapped animal he lashes out.  Because Satan knows he cannot defeat God, he instead chooses to go after what God loves, His people.  Satan is trying to hurt God by taking as many people down with him as he can. 

·         13-17: This passage seems to be a further description of God’s protection of Israel from verse 6.  If “the woman” represents Israel, “the rest of her offspring” in verse 17 could be a reference to all believers, including Gentile believers.  

·         Always remember that we have an enemy that is working day and night with all of his resources to drive you away from God.  1 Peter 5:8-9 states, “Be self controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him and stand firm in the faith, for you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.”

¹And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. ²The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. ³One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. ⁴Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" ⁵The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. ⁶He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. ⁷He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. ⁸All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. ⁹He who has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

¹¹Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. ¹²He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. ¹⁴Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. ¹⁶He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. ¹⁸This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.

Revelation 13 The Two Beasts                                                      

vs. 1-10 The First Beast

·         1: Remember, a good rule of Biblical interpretation is this: If the normal sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.  However almost every Bible scholar agrees that these chapters are symbolic because the normal sense doesn’t make common sense.  Now, the trick is to figure out what these symbols mean. 

·         1: The beast that comes out of the sea is identified by almost all Bible scholars as the Antichrist.  The “sea” is sometimes identified specifically as the Mediterranean Sea, and sometimes as the “nations” in general.  The ten crowns are taken to mean nations.  The seven horns are thought to mean seven rules of these nations.  Many people believe that the Antichrist will be the head of a ten-nation confederation in Europe which will be a revived Roman empire.   

·         Other passages outside of Revelation that mention the Antichrist include 1 John 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; and Daniel 7:8, 19-28 and Daniel 9:26-27. 

o        1 John 2:18: In this passage John tells his reads that they have heard that the Antichrist is coming, but there are also already “many antichrists.”   Those who deny that Jesus is the Christ are antichrist (1 John 2:22.)

o        2 Thessalonians 2:1-12: In this passage Paul describes the Antichrist as “the man of lawlessness” who will be revealed at the Day of the Lord (vs. 2-3).  He will oppose and exalt himself over everything else that is worshipped and will set himself up in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God (vs. 4.)  Satan will give him power to do counterfeit signs and miracles (vs. 9-12) but Jesus will ultimately defeat him “with the breath of His mouth and… the splendor of His coming” (vs. 8.)

o        Daniel 7:8, 19-28: Here the Antichrist is described symbolically as a little horn that speaks boastfully against The Most High (vs. 8, 20, 25.)  He is associated with the fourth beast, which represents the Roman Empire.  He will wage war against the saints defeating them (vs. 21.)  The saints will be handed over to him for “a time, times and half a time” that is, three and a half years (vs. 25.)  However, he will be overthrown when the “Ancient of Days” comes and pronounces judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High (vs. 22) and sets up His kingdom (vs. 13-14, 26-27.)

o        Daniel 9:26-27: This is part of the prophecy of the seventy sevens.  Here the Antichrist is described as “the ruler who will come” in verse 26.  He will make a covenant with “the many” for one “seven” (vs. 27) but in the middle of this seven year period he will stop the usual sacrifices in the temple and will set up the abomination of desolation in the temple “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” (vs. 27.)  Jesus mentions the abomination of desolation as a future event in Matthew 24:15. 

·         2: This description is somewhat like a vision of four beasts in Daniel 7:4-8.  In that passage the lion represents the kingdom of Babylon.  The bear represents the next world power, the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians.   The leopard represents the kingdom of Greece.  The last beast with iron teeth represents the Roman Empire.  This beast in Revelation is pictured as a mix of each of these beasts.   

·         3: The beast had what looked like a fatal wound that had been healed.  Some see this as meaning that the Antichrist will be assassinated, but then be raised from the dead (or at least appear to have been raised from the dead.)  Being resurrected like this will add credibility to his (false) claim to be the Messiah.  (He was killed and raised, just like Christ was.)  Remember, the Antichrist will try to impersonate Christ. 

·         4-8: The dragon is Satan, and the Beast is his representative on earth.  This parallels God the Father and Jesus Christ.  The world will worship them.  Read Daniel 11:31-39 and Matthew 24:1-25.  These are key passages about the Antichrist and the end times.  Many scholars believe that these verses indicate that at the midpoint of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will enter the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, set himself or his image in the Holy of Holies and demand that the whole world worship him or die.  This is the “abomination of desolation.”  Some people believe that the Daniel prophecy was fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes during the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament. By 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes had taken control of Israel, forcing Hebrews into Greek cultural practices that were abhorrent to them (such as making Hebrews partake in nude Olympic-style games, and having surgery to be “uncircumcised.”)  The worst thing he did was to convert the Jewish temple into a temple of Zeus and sacrificed a (unclean!) pig in the Holy of Holies!  Although he fills the prophecy is Daniel very well, and was certainly a foreshadowing of the Antichrist, Jesus said that the “abomination of desolation” was still in the future when He spoke in Matthew 24:15.  (By the way, three years after the temple was desecrated, a Jew named Judas Maccabaeus led a revolt and recaptured Jerusalem.  The Jewish festival of Hanukkah celebrates the purification and rededication of the temple wich took place on Dec. 25, 165 BC.) 

·         8: All will worship the beast except for the elect, those who’s names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Some translations say that the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world.  Other translations say that the names in the book of life were written before the foundation of the world.  The Greek is unclear.  However, both of these are true from other places in Scripture.  Ephesians 1:4 states that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.  1 Peter 1:19-20 speaks of Jesus as being foreordained before the foundation of the world.  This shows that the fall (Adam and Eve’s fall into sin) was not something that took God by surprise.  Instead, it was a part of his plan.  Why would God need to choose Christ as the slain Lamb (or elect people) if He didn’t know the fall would happen?  This also is evidence for the doctrine of predestination. 

·         10: Many will be captured and killed.  Although these actions by the Antichrist are evil, this is all a part of God’s plan; He is still in control.  How do we apply this?  The verse says this calls for: (1) patient endurance and (2) faithfulness.  Like it or not, God values our endurance and our faithfulness even more than our physical safety.  Do we?

vs. 11-18 The Second Beast

·         11-15: The second beast is the “False Prophet.”  Revelation 19:20 confirms this.  Together, the dragon (Satan), the beast (the Antichrist), and the Second Beast (the False Prophet) make up an Unholy Trinity that parallels the Holy Trinity.  The False Prophet is a human being, empowered by Satan, who will perform much of the same role as the Holy Spirit.  Just as the Holy Spirit’s role is to direct worship to Jesus (John 16:14) the False Prophet will act as a promoter to direct worship the Antichrist.  He will enable the Antichrist to do wonders to deceive the world that he is the Messiah.  He will set up an image of the Beast (probably in the temple of Jerusalem) for everyone to worship.  He will even seem to make the image of the Antichrist come alive.  

·         16-17: Just as the Holy Spirit places His seal on believers (Eph. 1:13-14), the False Prophet will try to force everyone to take the mark of the beast.  Without the mark of the beast, people will not be able to buy anything or sell anything.  (By the way, it’s hard to live when you can’t buy food.)  This mark could be a brand or something like that which is placed on his right hand or his forehead.  However, some have hypothesized that this mark could be some kind of a computer chip that acts like a debit card that is implanted under your skin on your hand or your forehead.  They suggest that the Antichrist will eliminate all paper (and coin) cash from society, saying that this will eliminate crime.  Then he will force everyone to use these computer chip debit chips as the only way to buy or transfer money.  Either way, people will be forced to comply or else face incredible hardship. 

·         16-17: It’s real easy to have our convictions when it doesn’t cost us anything.  However, when it starts to be inconvenient, or cost us things, it becomes really easy to make excuses and justify things.  What are examples of when you’ve seen that happen? 

·         18: Many people have spent countless hours trying to figure out the meaning of 666.  There have been countless explanations, everything from Nero Caesar to Hitler to Napoleon.  People often figure these things by taking the number values of the letters in people’s names and adding them up.  In most of the ancient languages, letters also had numerical values (like Roman numerals.)  A common example is the name for Nero (the evil Roman Emperor who’s persecution was responsible for the deaths of the Apostles Paul and Peter) given in Latin, “Neron.”  If N = 50, E = 6, R = 500, 0 = 60, and the last N = 50, the total would be 666.  The problem with this is that it is impossible to know for sure the exact identity of the person because there are so many people it could be, depending on how you do it.  During the second world war, some people pointed out that if we take our alphabet and make A = 100, B = 101, C = 102, etc., the name “HITLER” comes out to 666.  (When I did a report on Caesar worship and the mark of the beast in college, I showed how you could rearrange the numbers on the date “1886” to equal 666, therefore “proving” that the Moody seal—which is on everything at Moody, and contains the date 1886, when MBI was founded—was the mark of the beast.  (18 x 8 x 6 = 864.  8, 6, and 4 are three numbers which average to 6, thus 666.)  My point was to demonstrate how all sort of guesses can be made to match with this number.)  Anyway… although we don’t know exactly what 666 means today, it will probably be a lot more obvious during the Tribulation.   

·         18: People often point out that the number 7 is often associated with God as the “perfect” number.  6 is one less than 7, therefore short of perfection.  Also, man was created on the sixth day.  Therefore this is why they say the mark of the beast is 666, because 6 is the number of man.

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. ²And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. ³And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. ⁵No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

¹⁴I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one "like a son of man" with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe." ¹⁶So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.  ¹⁷Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe." ¹⁹The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. ²⁰They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

Revelation 14 The Hour of Judgment Has Come 

vs. 1-5 The Followers of the Lamb

·         This is another section of Revelation that is especially difficult to interpret.  John is given different visions (“Then I looked…”  “Then I saw…”) which do not necessarily seem to be in chronological order.  Some of it seems to be a “flash-forward” to Christ’s ultimate victory, just as Revelation 12 contained a flashback to Christ’s birth.

·         1: Some commentators make the point that the setting for this chapter is heaven, not earth.  Even the “Mount Zion” here is the heavenly Mount Zion, not the earthly Mount Zion (like in Hebrews 12:22-24.)  Therefore, these 144,000 may be a different 144,000 than the ones in Rev. 7.  However, if this is part of a flash-forward, it might be referring to the literal city of Jerusalem where Christ will return and plant His feet.

·         2: This isn’t incredibly important, but I found out that the Greek word for “harp” used here is the word “kithara” from which we get our word “guitar.”  (That would change your image of harps in heaven, wouldn’t it?)

·         3: These 144,000 seem to possibly be God’s “honor roll” of believers.  They learn a song that only they are able to learn.  Others suggest that these people represent all believers and the number 144,000 is only symbolic.  Commentators also debate if this is the same 144,000 from chapter 7.  That seems likely.

·         4: One view is that these people abstained from marriage as a necessity because normal married life would be impossible for a dedicated Christian during the Tribulation.  1 Corinthians 7:26-35 might support this interpretation.  Other commentators think Rev. 14:4 might be a reference to their spiritual purity, as opposed to the spiritual adultery they would be tempted to commit.  In any event, there is nothing in the Bible that suggests that sex defiles people if it is in marriage.  (And these days we need to point out that anything other than heterosexual marriage isn’t really marriage in God’s eyes.)  Verse 4 does not mean that these people had never had sex, but it does mean that they were not sexually immoral.  However, you should know that throughout church history there has been a tendency to view sex as “evil” even when you’re married.  This idea came more from Greek philosophy and the heresy of Gnosticism than from Scripture.  There is nothing in the Bible that says that ministers need to be celibate, like Catholic priests are required to be.  In fact, 1 Corinthians 9:5 proves that the Apostle Peter, Jesus’ brothers (James & Jude, who wrote the books of James and Jude), and other apostles all were married and had wives.

·         4: These believers followed the Lamb who purchased them with His blood.  Christianity, for all of us, is about following the Lamb.  Are you willing to follow Him?  Are you willing to follow Him wherever He goes?

·         5: This verse contrasts these believers with those who follow the Antichrist. 

vs. 6-13 The Hour of Judgment Has Come

·         6-7: Gospel means good news.  We often use this term specifically about the good news of salvation offered through Jesus to all who believe.  However, everything that God communicates is ultimately good news to those who believe.  As John Walvoord writes, “This everlasting gospel seems to be… the good news that God at last is about to deal with the world in righteousness and establish His sovereignty over the world.  This is an ageless gospel in the sense that God’s righteousness is ageless.  Throughout eternity God will continue to manifest Himself in grace toward the saints and in punishment toward the wicked.”

·         6-7: What did this angel say?  What can you learn from his commands?

·         8: Babylon was an ancient city/kingdom known for its idolatry.  Some see this as a coded reference to Rome.  Others think this refers to the Antichrist’s kingdom which is being described as being like Babylon.  This second angel is announcing its fall.  We will see more references to “Babylon” in Revelation 17-18.

·         9-10: Those who choose the Beast instead of Christ will save their life on earth, but lose it in eternity.  These verses describe God’s fury and wrath being poured out in full strength.  It is a terrifying thing to think about.  For believers, this fury and wrath was already poured out on Christ in our place.

·         11: This verse supports the fact that the people who go to hell will be there for all eternity.  They are not annihilated after a while like some people claim.  Hell and the eternity of hell are not popular doctrines in many emergent circles of Christianity today.  Yet, Jesus spoke about hell more than any person in the New Testament.  Eternity without Christ as one’s Savior is conscious eternal torment.  Each of these three words, conscious, eternal, and torment are important because they are taught by the Bible but denied by people today.  Hell is not supposed to be a popular doctrine, but it is a true doctrine.  Eternal punishment is appropriate because even the slightest rebellion against an infinitely holy God is an infinitely terrible offence.  In addition, we must remember that people are depraved to the core.  Without Christ, we are God-haters.  Those in hell will never stop hating God and thus they will never stop incurring guilt.   

·         12: This verse again tells us how we need to apply these truths: with patient endurance and faithfulness to Jesus.

·         13: It is not a “cursed” thing to die in the Lord, but a blessed thing.  Why?  For those alive at this time, this is especially true.  As Walvoord writes, “It is far better to be dead at the hands of the beast than to have favor as his worshiper.”

vs. 14-20 The Great Winepress of God’s Wrath

·         14-20: Most believe that this “one like a son of man” is Jesus.  The references to the “son of man” and the clouds connect to Daniel 7:13 and Matthew 26:64.  This seems to be a flash-forward to the ultimate victory of Christ over the wicked at His return. 

·         14-20: A sickle was used for chopping down crops when it was time to harvest.  (Think of the thing that the “grim reaper” carries.  That is a sickle.  It was used in farming to “reap” which means to harvest.)  Some people think that can run on forever without God ever calling them to account.  Yet one day the Son of Man will swing his sickle and the wicked will be cut down.

·         18-20: These verses are where the expression “the grapes of wrath” comes from.  The wicked will be crushed like grapes in a winepress.  The grapes in a winepress are stomped so that their juice flows out.  Here, the wicked are trampled and it is their blood that is pictures as flowing out like a river for a distance of about 180 miles.

·         If you have Jesus as your Savior, thank Him that because of Him you do not have to face God’s wrath.  Also thank Him, and take confidence in the good news of His ultimate victory.

Rev. 16 -  ¹Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth." ²The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.  ³The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. ⁴The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; ⁶for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."  ⁷And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments." ⁸The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. ⁹They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.¹⁰The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. ¹²The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. ¹³Then I saw three evil^[a] spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. ¹⁵"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."  ¹⁶Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. ¹⁷The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" ¹⁸Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. ²⁰Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. ²¹From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Revelation 15-16 The Bowl Judgments                                                       

Ch. 15 The Seven Angels with Seven Plagues

·         2: John saw those who had been victorious over the beast standing before the sea of glass.  If they’re in heaven, it probably means that they were killed.  How could they have been “victorious” if they were killed? 

·         The song of Moses is recorded in Exodus 15:1-18.

·         3-4: What truths about God can you pick up from the Song of the Lamb?  What truths about God does the song emphasize?

·         3: What does it mean that God’s ways are just and true?  What difference should that make in our lives?  (Are there times when we don’t live like we believe God’s ways are just and true?  How about when we question His timing?  How about when we resent the outcome of something that happened?)

·         3-4: Do you think that we should praise God for what He has done or for Who He is?  Some people only seem to praise God for Who He is.  On the other hand, I remember hearing someone in a class argue that we should praise God for Who He is, and not what He has done.  Which is right?  Why?  [Both are wrong.  Look at the song in these verses.  The worship here praises God both for what He has done, and Who He is.]

·         5-8: What do you think the wrath of God is like?  Do you think it’s just like human wrath, or somewhat different?  How so?  [The wrath of God is God’s righteous anger over sin.  Although it is anger, it is holy anger.  Also, God does not “fly off the handle” like we do.  God never “over-reacts.”  He usually gives people a very generous amount of time to repent, but there comes a time when God’s wrath must be poured out.  The wrath of God is a terrible thing; and we as Christians should be very thankful that Jesus had the wrath that we deserve poured out on Him.]  Do you think people like thinking about the wrath of God?  Why or why not? 

Ch. 16 The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

·         2: Bowl One: Painful and ugly sores on those who had taken the mark of the beast.  (Believers are spared.)

·         3: Bowl Two: The sea turns to blood and every living thing in it dies.

·         4: Bowl Three: Rivers and springs become blood.

·         5-7: Why is God just in these judgments?  Why is the “justice” of God something important?  How often do you worship God for His justice?  In Revelation 16 He is worshipped for being just in His judgments.  There is no way that you can worship God for being just in His judgments unless you see the greatness of God’s holiness, and the sinfulness of sin. 

·         7: Is God always just?  [Yes.]  If so, what does this say about being angry with Him?  [We get angry with someone when we think that they have treated us unfairly.  Some people can get very angry with God, but be careful!  Calling God “unfair” is the exact opposite of worship.  Yes, there are many times in life when you will feel hurt.  Through it all, remember that God is always just and always good.  Take strength in that.]

·          8-9: Bowl Four: The sun scorches people with fire.  (Solar flares?)  Still, people curse God and do not repent.

·         10-11: Bowl Five: Darkness.  This seems to be supernatural darkness.  During this time people are also said to gnaw at their tongues in agony.  You know you are having a bad time when you try to bite off your tongue in order to feel better.

·         12-14: Bowl Six: The river Euphrates, the natural boundary between Israel and the East, dries up.  This event will allow the armies from the east to march against Israel.  Three evil spirits “like frogs” come out from the dragon (Satan) and entice the kings of the earth to prepare for battle against Israel.

·         15: Jesus makes a statement in verse 15.  What is He saying?  [Jesus will come at any moment.  Be ready!  Think back on the past few weeks since Christmas… are there any times when you would have been awful embarrassed if Christ had come back right in the middle of what you were doing?  …Remember that He always sees you!]

·         16: The armies of the world gather together at the place called Armageddon to prepare for the “Battle of Armageddon.”  Harmagedon means “valley (or mountain) of Mageddo.”  When he once saw this valley, Napoleon Bonapart is said to have uttered, “This is the ideal battleground for all the armies of the world.”  Little did he realize that one day this would become the world’s greatest battleground. 

·         16: This Battle of Armageddon is what takes place in Revelation 19:19.  Before that, Revelation 17 and 18 describe the downfall of the Antichrist’s “Babylon.”  

·         17-21: Bowl Seven: What all happens when the last bowl is poured out?  Describe the extent of the earthquake that is part of the seventh bowl.  It is beyond any earthquake in history.  Notice its effects on citied, islands, and mountains.  In addition, there are 100-pound hailstones.  Imagine a bowling ball being dropped out of an airplane and falling on you.  A heavy bowling ball is only 16 pounds, not 100!

¹One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." ³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. ⁵This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES, AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. ⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 

⁷Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. ⁹"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for a little while. ¹¹The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹²"The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." ¹⁵Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. ¹⁶The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled. ¹⁸The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

Revelation 17 The Fall of Babylon: part 1                     

Ch. 17 The Woman on the Beast

·         At the end of chapter 16, the battle of Armageddon was about to take place.  In chapter 19, Christ returns at the battle of Armageddon.  Chapters 17 and 18 chapters seem to be a dramatic pause in the story in order to proclaim the fall of “Babylon.” 

·         1-6: The woman sitting on the scarlet beast is obviously symbolic.  (Remember the rule: if the normal sense makes common sense, seek no other sense.  It doesn’t make sense to think of a literal woman who “sits on many waters.”)  How does this chapter describe the woman?  What do you think she might represent?

o        1-2: She is called a prostitute, and the kings of the earth commit adultery with her.  (She causes them to commit spiritual adultery, false religion.)  The people of the earth are intoxicated by her; they are under her influence.  The reference to “many waters” (see vs. 15) and kings (plural) indicated her international influence.

o        3: The woman is riding the beast, the Antichrist, so she is not the Antichrist.  In fact, she uses the Antichrist, at least in the beginning. 

o        3: She was covered with blasphemous names.  (Blasphemy = disrespect toward God)  Therefore, she is arrogant and disrespectful toward the Lord.

o        4: She was dressed in expensive and ornate clothing, meaning that she is powerful and wealthy.

o        4: Her golden cup is filled with the abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.  She revels in her filth.

o        5: The title on her head identifies her with “Babylon” the mother of all false religion on earth. 

o        6: She was drunk on the blood of Christians.  Not only does she kill Christians, but she delights in it.

·         7-11: The city of Rome was known as the city on the seven hills.  Therefore, many Bible scholars think that this is a reference to the city of Rome, not the actual city if Babylon.  (Remember in the same way, the city of Jerusalem was figuratively called Sodom and Egypt in Rev. 11:8.)  Some Bible scholars think John wrote Revelation in code as a slam on the Roman Empire which was currently persecuting the church.  According to this view, John had to write Revelation in code so that the guards wouldn’t know what it was really saying.  (Remember, John wrote Revelation when he was imprisoned on the isle of Patmos.)  Other Bible scholars think that John is talking about a revived Roman Empire in the future.  Still, others see it as a combination of both.  (Side note: All of the reformers thought that Roman Catholic Church was the woman and the Pope was the Antichrist.  They thought this because of the false doctrine the Catholic Church taught and because of the extreme power it held.  Remember that for centuries, the Catholic Church was the only church in western Europe, the Pope was viewed as the representative of Christ and was often more powerful than many kings and emperors.) 

·         5: A “mystery” in the Bible is a previously unrevealed truth.  “Babylon” is known as the mother of idolatry and false religion. 

·         8: The statement about the Beast is probably a reference to the false resurrection of the Antichrist.

·         8: Note that Christians are those whose names have been written in the book of life from the creation of the world.  Those who never become Christians are those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world.  This is a reference to predestination. 

·         10: If this is a reference to kingdoms, the five that have fallen could refer to Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece.  Rome was still in power at the time of the writing of Revelation.  The Antichrist’s kingdom was yet to come.

·         11: The supposed assassination and resurrection of the Antichrist could explain the reference to the beast as seven and eight.

·         12-14: Ten kingdoms will unite under the empire of the beast to serve him and do his will.  They will unite against Jesus and His followers.  These kings cannot defeat the King of Kings. 

·         14: Don’t miss the main point: Although the enemies of Christ will fight against Him, Christ will win… because He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings!

·         16-18: Notice that at the start, the woman was riding the beast.  This means that she was using the beast and controlling the beast.  However at the end of the chapter, the beast turns on the woman and leaves her naked and destroyed.  Some scholars interpret it like this: The woman is “false religion” and the beast is the Antichrist.  The world will move closer and closer to a one-world religion.  Even today, we can see that many people want everyone to believe that all religions are basically the same.  (“All religious paths lead to the same destination.”)  Many people even want to water down Christianity to make it more “compatible” with things that other people believe.  The Antichrist will use this false religion at first, but at the midpoint of the tribulation he will declare himself to be God and demand worship from everyone on the earth.  Other scholars see the woman as either “false religion” or “the world’s system of power and influence” but don’t necessarily see this as something that happen during a literal seven-year tribulation at the end times.  

Revelation 18 The Fall of Babylon, part 2                     

Ch. 18 The Fall of Babylon: The Idol of Money and Possessions

·         Many scholars interpret this chapter as a pronouncement of victory over “commercial Babylon.”  If chapter 17 focused on the system of false religion, this chapter focuses on the world’s system of business, money, buying and selling, and greed.

·         In this chapter, take notice of the things that the people of “Babylon” value.

·         2-3: The angel announces the fall of this world system.  In verse 3 we start to get an indication that the focus is on money and products of “the good life.”  “…and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”  Money, and the things it buys, is a false god for most of the world.

·         Sometimes Satan’s kingdom manifests itself as false religion, other times it manifests itself as materialism and the love of money and power.  (Someone look up 1 John 2:15-17.)  Do you think most people know if they are part of Satan’s kingdom?

·         4-8: God is calling His people out of this evil system.  It promises happiness and the good life now, but it will not last.  What can we learn from this today?  Are there (at least) aspects of this that God is calling us out of today? 

·         4-8: How do we possibly “share in her sins” if, as believers, we live for material things like everyone else?  What effects does this often have on family, priorities, time and resources that should be going to God and to doing His work?  [For example, guys, if you buy into the world’s way of seeing life, chances are you will focus your energy on work and making money and neglect your family.  As teens, it is easy to get so busy that we can’t be involved with church or service.]

·         9-19: If money is your god, you will be devastated when it is lost.  We can see this in today’s financial crisis as well. 

·         What are two or three things that you or your family own that you would be the most shook up about if they were destroyed?  (You could also ask yourself this question the opposite way.  If you and your family were going to lose everything, including your money in the bank and your insurance, what two or three things would you want to save?)  Thinking about this might help you to notice some material things that have a danger of becoming idols to you.

·         During your life God will at times cause you to be separated from some of the things you treasure.  Things get lost, broken, and stolen.  Realize that this might be God’s severe mercy as He helps to pry your fingers off of false gods, or to keep some things from ever becoming false gods in the first place.

·         It is very tempting to go along with “the world” and to play by the rules of the world.  Why is it so tempting to play by the world’s rules?  (“It’s the way to get ahead!”)  What are some ways that people play by these rules?  What are some ways that even many Christians play by some of these rules?  (as teens, as adult?)

·         20: Although we don’t always think of this, the Bible clearly teaches that God is glorified through His judgment and righteous wrath over evil.

·         21-24: Most people live their lives for things that the world values, but are temporary and will not last.  Babylon will be destroyed forever. 

·         The Life Application Commentary offers six suggestions about how to keep away from the evil world system:

o        Know that people are more important than products.

o        Keep away from pride in programs, plans, and success.

o        Remember that God’s will and Word must never be compromised.

o        Always consider people above making money

o        Do what is right, no matter what the cost.

o        Be involved in businesses that provide worthwhile products or services- not just things that feed the world’s desires.

Revelation 1 to 3

Revelation 19-22