Revelation 11-15

Chapter Review 11-15

Chapter 11

Just before the sounding of the 7th and final trumpet God sends 2 witness who fearlessly preach for 3 1/2 years. But at the end of their ministry they will be killed by the “beast” and the world will celebrate. Now the clock has run out and God’s final wrath is about to be unleashed.

Chapter 12

Chapters 12-14 are actually a digression from John’s vision. We are reviewing chapters 6 - 11 and going back again through the tribulation but from Satan’s perspective. The chapter is filled with difficult apocalyptic imagery and symbolism. In this chapter we see Satan’s long ware against God and the saints. We see three attacks against Israel. The first is persecution ( 12:13-14), next is trouble symbolized by a flood ( 12:15-16) and finally Satan attacks everyone associated with Israel ( 12:17 ).

Chapter 13

Satan attempts to defeat God and prevent Jesus from setting up his earthly kingdom. Instead, he tries to setup his own kingdom. All of Chapter 13 is a parody of the Christin era. We see a counterfeit trinity, a death and resurrection, and a universal church with a mark of membership. This chapter also provides the most detailed look at the Anti-Christ found anywhere. We learn of his ancestry, his authority, his acclaim, his adoration, his activity and his admirers. We see his power and his deception.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 is the conclusion of the review of 6-11 and the six seals. We revisit the 144,000.

Chapter 15

A pause in heaven before the final judgment . We hear the new song of the lamb and the song of Moses.

Read and summarize

Look for

— Prayers ( Blue )

— Promises ( Green )

— Warnings ( Red )

— Commands ( Purple )

Chapter 11

Read and summarize

The Temple Measured

( 11:1-2 ) Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

Measuring Rod

— A reed like plant that grew in the Jordan valley to the height of 15-20 ft

— Hollow, light weight

— Ezekiel used this kind of rod to also measure the Millennial temple ( Ez 40:3-43:17 )

Physical Dimensions

— We’re not told the physical dimensions

— John was not told to measure it to determine its size

— So, it must be for some other reason

Ownership

— It was measured to indicate ownership ( cf. 21:15; Zech 2:1-5 )

— Measuring what is His

— Measured for something good; what was not measured was evil

— God is measuring off Israel, symbolized by her temple, for salvation and special protection

— Prophecies yet to come will distinguish between Isreal and His wrath on the pagan world ( Ez 40:3-42-20)

Temple

— John is not measuring the entire temple

— The holy place and the holy of holies

— This must have been very encouraging to John and other believers

— By this time Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed a 1/4 century earlier

— But here is a vision of a new temple

5 Temples

Solomon built the first temple

Zerubbabel built the second ( after the exile )

Herod built the third temple ( During Christ’s lifetime )

John sees a temple that was built during the tribulation ( Matt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:4 )

The Lord will build the fifth temple during the Millennium ( Ez 40-48; Hag 2:9; Zech 6:12-13 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

Measuring ( 11:1 )

— The measuring indicates that the true Jews and the false Jews were going to be distinguished in the Judgement that would come in AD 70

Trampled ( 11:2 )

— Gentiles trampled the city for 42 months

— Nero burned Rome ( AD 64 ) and blamed Christians

— Nero killed himself in AD 68 = 42 months ( Wilson, p. 1346 - 7 )

Gentile Court

( 11:2 ) But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles

— John leaves out the Gentile court when he measured the temple

— Rome allowed the Jews to execute anyone who was a Gentile and went past this “Gentile Court” ( Acts 21:28-29 )

The Church

— Is this the church?

— No, there is now no distinction between Jews and Gentile ( Col 3:11 )

— God will redeem Gentiles during the tribulation ( 5:9, 7:9 )

New Temple

— A new temple will be built in the first half of the tribulation

— Under the patronage and protection of the Antichrist

— Jews will believe in the true Messiah

— One day they will realize that Hebrews and Zechariah said

— “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” ( Heb 10:4 )

— “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” ( Heb 10:14 )

— “then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” ( Zech 12:10 )

Anti-Christ’s Jealousy

— Interest in Jesus as the true Messiah will provoke insane jealousy of the Antichrist

— Antichrist will act

— Midpoint of the tribulation, he stops worship

— Desecrates the temple ( Dan 9:27, 12:11; Matt 24:15 )

— He sets himself up as an object of worship ( 13:15; 2 Thess 2:4 )

Outer Court and 3 1/2 years

( 11:2 ) for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months

— 3 1/2 years is forty-two months or 1,260 days

— Corresponds to the career of Antichrist

— This will culminate in the time of the Gentiles ( Lk 21:24 )

— For thousands of years Gentiles have occupied and oppressed Jerusalem and the land

— Assyria

— Babylon

— Medo-Persia

— Greeks

— Romans

— Turks

— British

— Arabs

— But, the oppression of the Antichrist will be unimaginably worse

Some Sheltered

— Some will flee for safety

— “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” ( 12:6 )

Those who stay ( Big Picture )

— Those that stay will face terrible persecution

— But God will bring salvation to Isreal

— Two powerful preachers will appear ( 11:3 )

— They will be hated ( 11:7-8 )

— After 3 1/2 years Christ will return ( 19:11-16 )

— Antichrist will destroy Antichrist and his forces ( 19:17-21; 2 Thess 2:8 )

— Then judge the nations, Sheep & Goat ( Matt 25:31-46 )

— And establish His Millennial kingdom ( 20:1-10 )

God will Save

— Isreal is measured to save, preserve and protect the nation

— 2/3 will be purged and judged

— 1/3 will be saved and enter Christ’s earthly kingdom ( Zech 13:8-9 )

The Two witnesses

Q: Summarize the work of the two witnesses ( 11:3-14 ). What will result from their ministry ?

( 11:3-14 ) And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Their Power ( 11:5-6 )

Real People

— Witnesses ( 11:3 ) is the plural of μάρτυς (martus) from which we get martyr

— Always used in the NT to refer to real, actual people

— These must be real people, not movements as some commentators have held ( MacArthur, p. 298 )

— The OT required two or more witnesses to confirm testimony ( Deut 17:6; 19:15; Matt 18:16; John 8:17; Heb 10:28 )

Will Say

— They will prophecy or speak for God

— They will say that these disasters are not natural but coming from God

— And that ultimate judgment is coming

— They will be the culmination of God’s testimony to Israel

— A message of judgment

— And a gracious offer of the gospel to all who repent and believe

Sackcloth

— They will mourn because of

— The discretion of the temple

— The oppression of Jerusalem

— The rise of Antichrist

Who are they?

( 11:4 ) These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth

— Two olive trees, two lampstands

— Jews expected Moses and Elijah to return

— They appeared with Christ at His transformation ( Matt 17:3 )

— They represent the Law and the Prophets

Stop Rain

( 11:6 ) These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

— They have to power to stop rain

— Elijah pronounced a 3 1/2 year drought ( 1 Ki 17:1; James 5:17 )

— Elijah also called down fire from heaven ( 2 Ki 1:10, 12)

— Turn water to blood

— Moses turned the Nile river into blood ( Ex 7:17-21 )

— And they have power over world-wide pandemics!

Speculation

( 11:5 ) And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

— We don’t know who these people are

— But they will be universally hated ( 11:9-10)

— And they will have power to defend themselves with lethal force

Their Death ( 11:7-10 )

Killed

( 11:7 ) When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

— When their mission is complete, God will allow the beast to kill them

— This is the first reference to the beast

— A total of 36 references

— A world-wide ruler but not Satan

Lie in the Street

( 11:8 ) And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

— Sodom and Egypt

— Moral degradation ( Is 1:9; Ez 16:46 )

— Egypt known for oppression, slavery

— Both had unmitigated enmity toward the true God and His people

Not Moved

( 11:9 ) Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

— The whole world will see their dead bodies

— People, tribes, tongues, nations

Celebrations

( 11:10 ) And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

— Their death will be like Christmas!

— Giving of gifts

— Their rejoicing shows how complete is their rejection of the gospel message

Their Resurrection ( 11:11-12 )

Raised from the dead

( 11:11 ) Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

— No one has touched their bodies or moved them for three days

— Suddenly, they stand on their feet

— Panic will seize the world

— They stood on their feet but they didn’t continue to preach. Why?

— Miracles don’t make the gospel believable

— “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” ( Lk 16:31 )

Raptured

— These two men are raptured

— God calls them to heaven

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

The two witnesses ( 11:3 )

— These were not literal witnesses or people

— They represent the chain of prophets throughout the OT era ( Wilson, p. 1384 )

Dead bodies ( 11:8 )

— Their dead body would indicate some sort of corporate body

Dr Robert Thomas refutes this position: πτῶμα (ptōma) is a collective noun implying a plurality of corpses. This is evident from the plural in 11:9. It refers to what is fallen, especially what has been slain in battle, killed violently. ( Thomas, 8-22, p. 101 )

Their Impact ( 11:13 )

Earthquake

( 11:13 ) In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

— 7,000 people were killed

— και απεκτανθησαν εν τω σεισμω ονοματα ανθρωπων

— Literally, “and there were killed in the earthquake names of  men”

— Many prominent people in the city were killed

— The rest gave glory to God

— This is the mark of true repentance ( cf 4:9; 14:7; 16:9; 19:7; Lk 17:18-19; Ro 4:20 )

Third Woe Coming

( 11:14 ) The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

— The second woe was done

— But the third woe and the 7 bowls are coming

— The final violent judgments and the return of Christ

The Seventh ( 7th ) trumpet

Q: What did the voices say when the 7th angel sounded ( 11:15 )?

( 11:15-19 ) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Praise for Sovereignty ( 11:15-17)

Proclamation

( 11:15 ) “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

— This proclamation is connected to the 7th and final trumpet

— There is great joy, exhilaration in heaven

His Terms

— What Jesus refused to take on Satan’s terms ( Lk 4:5-8 ) He now takes on His terms

Ruler Now

— Satan is not the rightful king

— But Satan is the temporary ruler of this world

— Kingdoms of this world vs. kingdoms of our Lord

— God scattered the kingdoms at Babel ( Gn 11:1-9 )

— God ordains human governments ( Ro 13:1 )

— But they refuse to submit to Him ( Acts 4:26 )

— They are part of Satan’s kingdoms

— Satan is the ruler of this world ( Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11 )

Have Become

— But these kingdoms have become the Lords

— So certain of this future event that it is in the past tense

— Called the proleptic aorist tense

— Another example

— “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” ( Ro 8:30 )

Kingdom Foretold

— This kingdom is foretold throughout scripture

— Isaiah spoke of this earthly kingdom ( Is 2:2-3 )

— Daniel spoke of the kingdoms of the world ( Dan 2:34-35 )

— The vaunted empires of this world will be shattered by Messiah’s kingdom

— His kingdom is a stone cut out without hands

— Micah wrote about it ( Mic 4:1-3)

— When Gabriel announced Jesus birth, he said that Jesus would one day be the great king of the whole earth

— “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” ( Lk 1:31-33 )

Victory over Satan

— The 7th trumpet proclaims victory over Satan

— It sounds near the end of the tribulation followed by the brief bowl judgments just before Christs’s return

— Chapters 12-14 recap chapters 6 - 11

— Chapters 15-18 cover the effects of the 7th trumpet

Q: How do the 24 elders describe God ( 11:17 ) ?

( 11:17 ) saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned

— He is Almighty

— Found 10x in the NT

— 9x in Revelation ( cf. 1:8; 4:8; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22 )

— He has great Power

— Sovereign, omnipotent, irresistible power

— God is exercising his all-embracing, all-encompassing Will by means of His irresistible power

—The Elder’s prayers for the kingdom to come have been answered ( cf. Matt 6:10 )

Paroxysms rage ( 11:18a )

Q: What is meant by the phrase the nations were angry ( 11:18 ) ?

( 11:18 ) The nations were angry

— the nations were enraged ( NASB )

— the nations raged ( ESV )

— the nations were filled with wrath ( NLT )

No longer afraid

— The nations are no longer afraid

— Not they are defiant

— Enraged at the prospect of Christ establishing His kingdom over the whole earth

— The wrath of man is wicked

— The wrath of God is holy

We can understand

— Today, some people have TDS

— “Trump derangement syndrome”

— In that day they will have JDS

Deep Rooted

— This will not be

— This will not be a momentary, emotional outburst but a deep seated hatred, resentment for God

— No shame in their sin

— They will mobilize armies ( 16:14, 16; 20:8-9 )

— No desire to repent ( 16:11 )

— Assemble the nations together for war at Armageddon ( cf. Ps 2:1, 5, 12; Acts 4:24-29 )

Crossed the line

— At this point they have crossed the line

— Beyond the point of grace

— There is no salvation at Armageddon, only death

Plan for judgement ( 11:18b )

( 11:18 ) The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Your Wrath Came

— Your wrath has come

— Another use of the Greek proleptic aorist speaking as if it has already happened ( cf. 11:15 )

— Isaiah spoke at length about punishing sinners ( Isa 24:17-23; 26:20-21; 30:27-33 )

Longed For

— The sounding of the 7th trumpet is the fulfillment of the great judgement the prophets foresaw and the saints of all ages longed for ( cf. Pss 3:7; 7:6; 35-18; 44:26; 68:1-2 )

Q: In what sense may people destroy the earth? What will happen to them ( 11:18 )?

( 11:18 ) And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

— Not those who pollute

— But those who pollute the earth with their sin

— Man was given dominion ( Gn 1:28 )

— But he fell into sin and corrupted the earth ( Ro 8:19-21 )

— When sin reaches its apex, God will destroy it and create a new earth ( 21:1; Is 65:17; 2 Pet 3:12-13 )

Promise of Communion ( 11:19)

( 11:19 ) Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Unbroken Fellowship

— God’s temple is opened in heaven

— Unbroken fellowship

— The arc was in the holy of holies but is now accessible to all

The Arc

— The arc represents God’s communion with His people

— Blood sacrifices were offered there ( Lev 16:2-16; Heb 9:3-7 )

— God from above the arc spoke to Moses ( Num 7:89)

— Inside is a golden jar holding manna and Aaron’s rod which budded and the tablets with the commandments ( Heb 9:4 )

Lightening

— Heaven is the source of judgment for unbelievers

— but unspeakable joy for the redeemed

Reflection

— John’s calling to tell the world of what he has seen is reminiscent of the Great Commission ( Matt 28:18-20 )

— How passionate are you about sharing God’s truth with family members, neighbors and co-workers?

— What keeps you from being a more active witness for Christ ?

Chapter 12

Read and summarize

Q: How does the media and Hollywood films portray supernatural and evil and demonic behavior? Is this accurate according to the biblical view?

Q: Have you ever been in a situation or around a person that seems to epitomize evil? Describe your experience of coming “face-to-face” (either literally or figuratively) with such a blatant intense wickedness

Q: What speculations have you heard about the identity of the Anti-Christ?

12-14

— These chapters are actually a digression from John’s vision

— He is taking us back over chapters 6-11 from Satan’s perspective

— These chapters are filled with difficult apocalyptic imagery and symbolism

— In the future, Satan will serve God’s purpose by being permitted to launch another deadly assault against the human race

The Woman ( 12:1-2 )

Q: Explain the symbols describing the woman. What is she about to do?

( 12:1-2 ) Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

Great Sign

— Everything John saw was great, large, super-sized

— This is the first of seven ( 7 ) signs ( 12:3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20 )

Signs

— Signs are symbols that point to a reality

— Women as signs in Revelation

— Jezebel ( 2:20 ) was a false teacher and symbolized paganism

— This women represents Israel ( 12:1 )

— Another women is a harlot ( 17:1-7 ) and represents the apostate church

— A another is the bride of the lamb ( 19:7-8 ) and is the true church

This Woman

— This women ( 12:1 ) represents Israel

— The OT Israel was an adulterous wife ( Jer 3:1, 20; Ez 16:32-35; Hos 2:2 )

Clothed

( 12:1 ) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars

— This is similar to Joseph’s dream ( Gn 37:9-11 )

— Father ( sun )

— Mother ( moon )

— 12 Sons ( stars ) bow down to Joseph

Pregnant

( 12:2 ) Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

— She is with child; has to be Israel

— OT imagery ( Is 26:17-18; 66:7-9; Jer 4:31; 13:21; Mic 4:10, 5:3 )

— This is not the church; we’re not married yet ( 19:7-9 )

— “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” ( 2 Cor 11:2 )

Pain

— No nation has suffered as long or as severely as Israel

— Both God’s chastening

— And Satan’s efforts to destroy her

The Dragon ( 12:3-4 )

Q: What sign appears next? How is he described? Explain the symbols describing the dragon. What does he do with the stars? What do they represent?

( 12:3-4 ) And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

Another sign

— The dragon ( a symbol pointing to a reality )

— Satan ( 12:9; 20:2 )

— Only here in Rev is Satan referred to as a Dragon

Seven heads

( 12:3 ) having seven heads and ten horns

— Seven ( 7 ) consecutive world empires

— Egypt

— Assyria

— Babylonian

— Medo-Persian

— Greece

— Rome

— Anti-Christ’s future empire ( 17:9-10 )

Joe Hackett

— Suggests that this is a revised Islamic caliphate

Diadems

( 12:3 ) and seven diadems on his heads

— Crowns, power, authority

Tail / Stars

( 12:4 ) His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth

— These are the angels that feel with Satan ( Is 14:12-15; Ez 28:12-17 )

— Depicted as stars ( 9:1; Job 38:7 )

Vast

— A vast number of angels ( now demons )

— The number of angels around God’s throne was ten thousand, and thousands of thousands ( Rev 5:11 )

— Rev 9:16 tells us that two-hundred million demons will be released near the Euphrates river

400 M

— That means that if 1/3 of the angels fell, there must be at least 400 million holy angels

Q: What does the dragon do to the women and her child ( 12:4 ) ?

( 12:4 ) And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.

Satan’s Attacks

— Satan has been bent on destroying Israel and the Messiah

— Cain’s murder of Abel ( Gn 4:8 )

— John commented on Satan’s plan to kill the nation

— “not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” ( 1 Jn 3:12 )

Demonic Invasion

— Satan sent demons to co-habitat with women and corrupt the line of Seth ( Gn 6:1-4 )

— Demons cannot be redeemed

— God had to destroy mankind and this race of 1/2 human and 1/2 angel

— The attempted rape of Sarah ( Gn 12:10-20 )

— Rebekah’s plan to cheat Esau out of his birthright and subsequent enmity between Esau and Jacob ( Gn 27)

— The murder of all male children in Egypt ( Ex 1:15-22 )

— The attempted murder of David ( 1 Sam 18:10-11 )

— Queen Athaliah’s attempt to destroy the royal seed. The messianic line dwindled to one fragile child ( 2 Chr 21:17; 22:10-12 )

— Haman tried to kill all of the Jews through genocide ( Esther 3-9 )

— Consistent attempts of the Israelites to murder their own children through sacrifices to pagan gods ( Lev 18:21; 2 Ki 16:3; 2 Chr 28:3; Ps 106:37-38; Ezk 16:20 )

— Herod’s attack on children in Bethlehem ( Matt 2:16 )

— Satan tried to murder Christ before he could do his saving work

The Male Child ( 12:5-6 )

Q: When the child is born, how is he described? What happened to prevent the dragon from destroying the child ( 12:5 ) ?

( 12:5-6 ) She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Flee

— God will frustrate Satan’s plan by hiding His people

— They will flee into the wilderness ( 24:15-21 )

Defended

— Don’t know where they will go

— But they will be defended and nourished by God ( 14-16 )

The Battle ( 12:7-8 )

Q: What great event followed ( 12:7 )? What was the outcome ( 12:8 ) ?

( 12:7-8 ) And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

War broke out

— There was war in heaven

— Satan was cast out and fell to the earth

— Now he prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour ( 1 Pet 5:8 )

— He opposes the spread of the gospel ( Matt 13:19, 37-39; Acts 13:10 )

— Oppresses individuals ( Lk 13:10-16; Acts 10:38 )

— Uses sin to disrupt and pollute the church ( Acts 5:1-11 )

Our Response

— Our response to Satan is to

— Be aware of his schemes ( 2 Cor 2:11 )

— Give him no opportunity ( Eph 4:27 )

— Resist him at every turn ( James 4:7 )

Defender of God’s people

( 12:7 ) Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought

— The angel Michael is always the defender of God’s people

— Satan wanted Moses’ body after he died ( Deut 34:5-6 )

— Michael opposed Satan, won the battle, buried Moses ( Deut 34:6 )

— Another holy angel was sent to answer Daniel’s prayer but was delayed for 3 weeks!

— Michael came to help and prevailed

Total Victory

( 12:8 ) nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.

— God will clear house

— No more access to heaven

— No more mingling with the holy angels

The Victory ( 12:9 )

Q: Where do they go after being cast from heaven?

( 12:9 ) So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

— Heaven’s cleansing is earth’s pollution

— They are cast to the earth ( cf 12:12 )

— Fury directed to anyone who identifies with Christ and the nation Israel

Serpent of Old

— The serpent was in the garden of Eden ( Gn 3:1ff; 2 Cor 11:3 )

— Serpent emphasizes his subtlety, treachery

Devil διάβολος (diabolos)

— slanderous (one), adversarial (one), Devil

— false accuser

Prowls

— Satan now prowls around like a roaring lion ( 1 Pet 5:8 )

— No doubt to seek evidence of our sins

— Parade them before God

— Accuse us before the throne and question God’s concept of justice ( 12:10 )

Truth

— But the truth is

— “ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” ( Ro 8:1 )

— “ My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ( 1 Jn 2:1 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

Satan Cast to the earth ( 12:9 )

— This happened in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

— “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” ( Jn 12:31 )

— That’s why ( 12:10) says “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come,

— Short time: The devil has been cast out and has a short time to stamp out the infant church

The Celebration ( 12:10-12 )

Q: What did the Loud voice in 12:10 say? How did salvation come according to ( 12:11 )? Who else overcame Satan ( 12:11 )?

( 12:10-12 ) Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

A Loud Voice

— A sudden burst of praise

— We don’t know from who

— Not angels because they are believers and fellow servants ( 19:10; 22:8-9 ) but never brethren

— Angels are not human can cannot be brethren

—( 12:10 ) says the accuser of our brethren

Overcame

( 12:11 ) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

— The believers on earth overcame Satan

— Written in the past as if this was certain to happen

— Another example of proleptic aorist

— The preterist view might have something to say about the use of past tense

— They overcame because of the blood of the lamb

— “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” ( 1 Pet 1:18-19 )

How?

— Take the helmet of Salvation ( Eph 6:17; 1 Thess 5:8 )

— Realize that no accusation will stand

— There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ ( Ro 8:1 )

Testimony

( 12:11 ) and by the word of their testimony,

— Their testimony never wavered

Faith

( 12:11 ) and they did not love their lives to the death

— Their faith was so real that it preserved them in their trials

— Jesus addressed the overcomers of the churches:

— Ephesus - “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life “ ( 2:7 )

— Smyrna - “Be faithful unto death” ( 2:10 )

— Pergamos - “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat” ( 2:17 )

— Thyatira - “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over nations” ( 2:26 )

— Sardis - “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments” ( 3:5 ) ;

— Philadelphia - “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of God” ( 3:12 );

— Laodicea - “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne”( 3:21 );

— but also in the gospels

— “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” ( Matt 24:13 )

John Phillips

Satan is now like a caged lion, enraged beyond words by the limitations now placed upon his freedom. He picks himself up from the dust of the earth, shakes his fist at the sky, and glares around, choking with fury for ways to vent his hatred and his spite upon mankind ( Phillips, Exploring Revelation, p. 160 )

Ultimate Defeat

— We can have confidence that no matter what Satan does, his ultimate defeat is certain

Martin Luther

A Mighty Fortress is our God

The prince of darkness grim / We tremble not for him / His rage we can endure / For lo his doom is sure / One little word shall fell him

Attack One ( 12:13-14 )

Q: Whom did the dragon then try to persecute ( 12:12-14 )? What happened to her?

( 12:13-14 ) Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

Jewish Persecution

— God has repeatedly punished Israel

— He warned them of the consequences of disobedience ( Dt 28:15-68 )

— He punished them when they did not obey ( cf. 2 Ki 17:7-23 )

— Northern Kingdom ( 722 BC )

— Southern Kingdom ( 586 BC )

Satan

— Satan has also persecuted Israel

— His purpose is not remedial ; he does not want to bring them to repentance

— But, to destroy them

Post Biblical

— Persecution in Europe

— The first crusade by the Catholic Church ( 1095 - 99 )

— massacred the Jews

— destroyed homes

— pushed them into the synagogue and set it on fire

King Edwards I

— King Edward I banished all Jews from England in 1290

— They were not allowed to return for 3 1/2 centuries later under Oliver Cromwell

— France expelled the Jews in 1306

— Columbus sailed in 1492

— He read Isaiah 60 as justification for his trip to bring gold & silver to Jersualem

— Ironically, Spain expelled all Jews that same year

— The Jews were clammed for natural disasters like the Black Plague ( 1348 - 50) and savagely persecuted

— 19th century they were blamed for the assassination of the Russian Tsar Alexander II ( 1881 )

— 3 million killed by Stalin

— 1930’s Nazi’s “Final Solution”

— 6 million killed

— 1/2 of Jewish population in Europe

Q: Do you think the holocaust will ever be repeated ?

— Today an estimated 14.6 million Jews

— 2/3 ( 11 million ) will be killed by Satan during the great tribulation

— The Antichrist

— During the first 3 1/2 years he is Israel’s protector

— During the last 3/12 years he is Israel’s persecutor

Olivet Discourse

— Jesus warned the Jewish people of the desperate danger of persecution ( Matt 24:15-22 )

— There will be no time to go home and collect your things

— There will be some who help and assist the refugees

— They are those who feed and cloth me ( Matt 25:31-40 )

Wings

( 12:14 ) But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place,

— He will deliver them ( Ex 19:4 )

— Strength and speed ( 2 Sam 22:11; Pss 18:10; 104:3 )

— Protection ( Pss 17:8; 36:6; 57:1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4 )

Nourished

( 12:14 ) where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time,

— Supernaturally supplied with food

— Cut off from the world system

— unable to buy or sell ( 13:17 )

( 12:14 ) from the presence of the serpent

— Stan will know where they are hiding

— But he will not be able to get to them

Attack Two ( 12:15-16 )

Q: How did the dragon next try to defeat her ( 12:15-16 ) ? What happened instead ?

( 12:15-16 ) So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Flood

— Flood symbolizes trouble in general ( cf 2 Sam 22:17; Job 27:20; Pss 18:16; 32:6; 69:1-2, 13-14; 124:2-5; 144:7 )

— Isaiah used the same illustration of water to symbolize the Assyrian army conquering Judah ( Is 8:7-8 )

Attack Three ( 12:17 )

Q: Toward whom did the dragon then turn his anger ( 12:17)? Who are these people and what is the point?

( 12:17 ) And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Other Targets

— Satan frustrated now takes aim at everyone else

— 144,000

— The believing Gentiles

— And those who keep the commandments of God

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

The Theme of Revelation

— God is in the process of divorcing the Old Jerusalem and preparing a bride for His Son in the New Jersualem

( 12:13 ) They sought refuge in Pella in AD 66

Chapter 13

Read and summarize

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 records Satan’s long war against God and the saints

— Satan is cast from heaven

Chapter 13

Satan attempts to defeat God and prevent Jesus from setting up His own kingdom

Human Agents

As a spirit, Satan must use human agents

— He works through men and controls unbelievers

— “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” ( Jn 8:44 )

— Some people are and will be under his direct control

— Satan used Judas to betray Jesus

— Luke recorded those terrifying words:

— “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” ( Lk 22:3 )

Detailed Look

—This chapter provides the most detailed look at the Antichrist found anywhere

— He was first introduced in ( 11:7 ) as the one who killed the two witnesses

His Ancestry ( 13:1 )

Q: Describe what John saw rising from the sea ( 13:1) ?

( 13:1 ) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

I or He

( 13:1 ) Then I stood on the sand of the sea

— The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea ( NIV )

— and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea ( ASV )

— Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns ( NLT )

NU

— The NU in the margin refers to the 26th edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek NT ( N ) and the United Bible Societies 3rd Ed ( U )

— Hence, NU is the oldest and most reliable Greek Manuscript

— read “he stood”

Sand

— Represents the nations of the world ( 20:8 )

Sea

— Some OT references equate sea with the nations of the world ( Is 17:12; 57:20; Rev 17:15 )

Abyss

( 13:1 ) And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea

— ( 11:7 ) and ( 17:8 ) says he comes out of the Abyss

— The sea in this context is the Abyss

Man

— The Antichrist will be a man ( 2 Thess 2:4 )

— At some point in his life he will be indwelt by a powerful demon

— He will have super human power

— vast intellect

— consummate wickedness

Horns

( 13:1 ) having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name

— ten horns - power ( 1 Sam 1:1, 10: 2 Sam 22:3; Job 16:15; Pss 18:2; 75:4-5 )

— ten - all the worlds political and military power

— corresponds to Daniel’s 4th beast ( Dan 7:7, 24 )

— Antichrist will arise from the 10 ( Dan 7:16-24 )

Seven Heads

— More in chapter 17

— 7 successive world empires

— Egypt

— Assyria

— Babylon

— Medio-Persia

— Greece

— Rome

— And the 7th and final Antichrist world empire

Blasphemous Names

— just like the many Roman emperors before him

— Antichrist will blaspheme God’s name

His Authority (13:2)

Q: What animals is this beast compared to ( 13:2) ? How does this compare to Daniel 7?

( 13:2 ) Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

Daniel

— Dan 7:3-7

— Four beasts out of the sea

— A lion had the wings of an eagle ( Babylonians)

— A bear ( Medo-Persian)

— A leopard ( Alexander the Great ) which had four wings and four heads

— A now a fourth beast terrifying and strong with 10 horns different than the others

John’s Vision

( 13:2 ) Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion

— John is looking back in history

— He sees these in reverse order

— Alexander the Great ( Leopard )

— Medo-Persian ( Bear )

— Babylonians ( Lion )

Great Authority

( 13:2 ) The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority

— Antichrist will share Satan’s throne ( 2:13 )

— A counterfeit Christ shares the Father’s throne ( cf. 3:21; 22:1, 3 )

— World-wide authority

— Hitler attempted this and almost succeeded

Satan tempts Jesus

— When Satan tempted Jesus ( Matt 4:1-11 )

— Offered him political power if Jesus worshipped him

— Satan’s plan was to rule the world through Jesus

— Jesus refused to do Satan’s bidding

— Satan now turns to the beast described here

His Acclaim ( 13:3 )

Q: What evidence can you find to explain the head that had the deadly wound, etc ( 13:3 )?

( 13:3 ) And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

A Kingdom

— Some see this as the death and revival of the Roman Empire

— Antichrist will unite the countries of the ancient Roman Empire

— Today, 40 - 50 countries

Europe

— England, Wales, Portugal, Spain

— France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland

— Luxembourg, Belgium, Romania, Gibraltar

— Moldova, Ukraine

And Also

—Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia

— Hungry, Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece

— Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria

— Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan

Costal Northern Africa

— Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt

Middle East

— Israel, Saudia Arabia, Sudan, Syria

— Iraq, Kuwait, Cyprus, Lebanon

Problems

( 13:3 ) And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded,

— Problems with this view

— The most obvious problem is that one of the heads is slain ( 13:3 )

— But other passages say that the beast himself is slain ( 13:12, 14; 17:8, 11 )

—Personal pronoun “his” indicates one of the kings is slain not the empire

— Reviving the empire would probably not cause world-wide astonishment and wonder in this verse

— Finally, the phrase “as if … slain“ is used of Christ in 5:6 implying that this is also a person in this passage ( MacArthur, p.45 )

Another view links the death and resurrection with Nero

— Many believed that Nero, who committed suicide in 68 AD would rise again

— Doubtful many Christian believed the myth

— Further, the beast will suffer a violent death at the hands of another ( 13:14 )

— Nero took his own life ( MacArthur, p.45 )

More Likely

( 13:3 ) And all the world marveled and followed the beast

— Likely refers to a fake death and resurrection enacted by the Antichrist, as part of his lying deception. Cf. vv. 12, 14; 17:8, 11; 2Th 2:9.

— People in the world will be astounded and fascinated when Antichrist appears to rise from the dead

— He will win even more followers; invulnerable even to death

— His charisma, brilliance, and attractive but deluding powers will cause the world to follow him unquestioningly (v. 14; 2Th 2:8–12) ( MacArthur Study bible )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

The Beast

— Represents the Roman Empire

— Seal represents the Gentile Nations ( Is 17:12; 60:5 )

— Dan 7:1-7 describes 4 beasts each representing successive empires

— 4th is the Roman Empire

— This description closely matches Daniel

— A culmination beast ( earlier empires were leopard, lion, bear)

— Paul describes being delivered from Rome as being delivered from a lion ( 2 Tim 4:17 )

7 Hills

— Rome known as the city of seven Hills

— New York - the Big Apple

— New Orleans - The Big Easy

— Chicago - The Windy City

Beast ( 7 )

— 7 heads and 7 hills

— Represents 7 successive emperors

— Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius

Head Wound

— Five emperors were, 6th is Nero who killed himself ( AD 68 )

— The nation destabilized but then recovered

The First Beast

— Roman Empire

— 7 heads / 7 hills

— The 6th head was reigning ( Nero ) when the book of Revelation as given

The Head

— Has to be the future Antichrist not a kingdom ( cf 14; 2 Thess 2:9 )

— His phony resurrection is one of his lying wonders ( 13:12-15; 2 Thess 2:9 )

His Adoration ( 13:4 )

Q; What did the people do according to (13:4)? What does that tell you?

( 13:4 ) So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

Demand Worship

— The man Antichrist will demand worship

— “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” ( 2 Thes 2:4 )

Not content with

acclaim… he will demand adoration

respect… he will require reverence

hailed and heralded … he will demand worship

Deceived

— And he will be worshipped by the deceived !

— He will be worshipped by those who “ ...did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” ( 2 Thess 2:10 )

Worship

( 13:4 ) So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast;

— The deceived will worship Antichrist

— They will also worship the dragon ( Satan ) because he gave authority to the beast

— Worshipping Antichrist or idols is actually worshipping Satan

— “Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” ( 1 Cor 10:20 )

— They will think that they are worshipping God

Who is like him?

( 13:4 ) “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

— Superlative language only reserved for God ( cf Ex 15:11; Pss 35:10; 113:5; Isa 40:18, 25; 46:5; Jer 49:19; Mic 7:18 )

— They are unwittingly blaspheming God

The bible also says that the beast is

— Intellectual genius ( Dan 7:8 )

— outstanding orator ( Dan 7:20 )

— military leader without parallel in human history ( Dan 7:23 )

— shrewd, calculating, manipulating politician ( Dan 8:25; 11:21 )

— The ultimate religious charlatan ( 2 Thess 2:4 )

His Arrogance ( 13:5-6 )

Q: What did the beast do ( 13:5-6)? Explain the significance

( 13:5-6 ) And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

Blasphemer

— Antichrist will be an arrogant blasphemer like Satan his master

— He will have a mouth uttering great boast, pompous words ( Daniel 7:8, 25; 11:36 )

— He will be Satan’s mouthpiece

— This man will surpass any arrogance in all of human history and express Satan’s frustrated rage against God

Directed at

— His name ( the summation of all his attributes )

— His abode

— His people

His Activity (13:7 )

Q: What did he do to the saints?

( 13:7 ) It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

— The 5th Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

Slaughter

— The world-wide slaughter of God’s people ( cf 6:9-11; 7:9-17; 11:7; 17:6; Dan 7:25 )

— Begins at the mid-point of the tribulation

— Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel ( Dan 9:27 )

— And sets up the abomination of desolation ( Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3-4 )

His Admirers ( 13:8-10 )

Q: Who worshipped him? Explain the significance of ( 13:10 )

( 13:8-10 ) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Unbelievers

— All who dwell on the earth will worship Antichrist

— This phrase “all who dwell on the earth” always refers to unbelievers ( 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:12; 13:14; 17:2, 8)

Those Saved

— The eternally elect are saved through faith in Jesus Christ

— We are saved, secure ( John 3:16; 5:24; Acts 13:39, 16:36; Ro 3:22-30, 4:5, 10:9-10; Gal 3:22-26; Eph 2:8-9 )

The Book

( 13:8 ) whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world

— Names in the book of life ( cf 3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; Phil 4:3 )

Not Elect

— They will be judged because

— “did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” ( 2 Thess 2:12 )

— They are lost because

— “because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” ( 2 Thess 2:10 )

— lost because they refused to believe the gospel ( Jn 3:36; Ro 1:18-32; 2:8; 2 Thess 1:8-9; 1 Pet 2:8; 4:17 )

Not Deceived

— Believers will not be deceived by Anti-Christ ( Matt 24:24 )

— We will not worship him ( 20:4 )

— He will not destroy our faith ( 3:5; 1 Jn 5:4 )

— He may take our lives but not our faith

Ear

( 13:9 ) If anyone has an ear, let him hear

— used 15 times in the NT

— In all the previous times in Rev it includes the phrase “what the spirit says to the churches”

— The church is not in view here. Where they raptured ? ( cf. 3:10 )

Practical Truth

( 13:10 ) He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

— Depend on God’s providence

— Don’t take matters into your own hands

— Accept incarceration as God’s will

— Don’t resist or fight against Antichrist

— No place for militant, aggressive, violent believers

— “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” ( 1 Pet 4:19 )

His Person ( 13:11 )

Q: How is the second beast described ( 13:11 )? How is he related to the first beast?

( 13:11 ) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

A Second Beast

— The first beast was the Antichrist ( 13:1-10 )

— This is another beast !

— Some see this as an institution or form of government

— Common Protestant view is that this is a pope

Same Kind ἄλλος (allos), other; another

— Use of the Greek ( allos ) another of the same kind

— he will be a person like the first, not an institution

Historical View

— This view goes all the way back to Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Victorinus

— is that this beast is the main religious assistant or henchmen to the first beast, false Christ ( Thomas, 8-22, p. 173 )

A Parody

All of Chapter 13 is a parody of the Christian era

— a counterfeit trinity, ie. “an unholy trinity”

— a death and resurrection

— a universal church with a mark of membership

Two Horns

( 13: 11 ) and he had two horns like a lamb

— Not as scary as the first beast who was described as ( 13:1 )

— grotesque

— frightening

— 10 horns

— 7 heads

— 10 crowns

— 7 blasphemous names

— savage

— ferocious like a leopard, bear, lion ( 13:2 )

This beast is a subtle deceivers

— Two horns

— Like a lamb

— meekness, gentile, without authority

A child of Hell

( 13: 11 ) and spoke like a dragon

— Despite his meek appearance He is a child of Hell

— He is Satan’s human mouth piece

— He will not speak the blasphemous words against God - that’s Anti-Christ’s job

— The second beast will

— Praise the Anti-Christ

— Speak winsome, flattering words about him

— Deceive the world to worship the dictator

— He will come as a lamb

— Speak words of comfort

— Offer hope to the suffering amidst the tribulation

— All will be well if they only worship the Anti-Christ

— Possibly from Palestine ( Dan 11:37; 2 Thess 2:4 )

Consequences

— but those who heed his subtle deception will face God’s terrifying judgement ( cf. 14:9-11; 16:2 )

His Power ( 13:12-14 )

Q: What power does the beast have? What signs can he do ( 13:3 )? Are his signs legitimate ( 13:4) ? Can Satan perform miracles

( 13:12-14 ) And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth—by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

— Perform great signs ( 11:4; 13:12 )

— Connection with the resurrection ( 11:11; 13:14-15 )

— Power over fire ( 11:5; 13:13 )

Thomas

The beast’s sign-producing power extends even to the point of John’s wildest dreams of calling down fire from heaven. John and his brother James had asked Jesus for permission to wield this power ( Lk 9:54, cf 1 Ki 18:38; 2 Ki 1:10-12 ) but had been denied ( Thomas, 8-22, p. 176 )

Outdo Egyptian Magicians

— This second beast will far surpass what the Egyptian magicians could do ( Ex 7:10-12 )

— or, Jannes and Jambres ( 2 Tim 3:8-9 )

— or, Simon Magus ( Acts 8:9-11 )

— Satan will enable him with signs and wonders ( 21 Thess 2:9 )

Deception

— Jesus said that deception would happen ( Matt 24:24 )

— but elect will not be deceived

His Program ( 13:15-18 )

Q: What happens to those who will not worship the beast ( 13:15 )? What number does the beast have ( 13:18 )?

( 13:15-18 ) He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Breadth of Life πνεῦμα (pneuma). n. neut. spirit, breath, wind

— The false prophet will give breadth to the idol

— This will undoubtedly amaze and deceive many

— the word (pneuma) animate

— not zoe, bios, life

Kills Christians

( 13:15 ) and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed

— Kill anyone who will not worship the beast

— These are many of the martyrs mentioned earlier ( 6:9-11; 7:13-14 )

— Some people will survive the tribulation and see Christ return ( cf. Is 65:20-23; Matt 25:31-40 )

A Seal

( 13:17 ) and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name

— Without the seal, unable to buy or sell

— The pressure to worship the Antichrist will be worse than anything in history

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

— Rev 13:16-17 is not describing the control of financial transactions but rather access to the temple controlled by the Jewish anti-Christian religious establishment ( Demar, 250 )

Name

( 13:18 ) Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast

— His name or number will be known by everyone

666

( 13:18 ) for it is the number of a man: His number is 666

— John clearly intended this number to be recognizable by someone, yet future

— The number of man

— 7 is the number of perfection

— God’s number

— man falls short of perfection ( Gn 1:26-31 )

— Slaves freed after 6 years ( Ew 21:2 )

— Fields sown 6 years ( Lev 25;3 )

— Repeat 3x man’s number, like God 3x holy, holy, Holy

Satan’s Work in the World

— His hatred for Christ ( 12:13-15 )

— His hatred for God’s people ( 12:17 )

— His power and authority ( 13:2 )

— His popularity among unbelievers ( 13:3-4 )

— His blasphemy against God ( 13:6 )

— His war against believers ( 13:7 )

— His ability to deceive ( 13:14 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

The 2nd Beast

— Comes out of the earth

— γῆ (gē) or land, comes out of Israel

— The land beast represents the priesthood of Israel

Signs and Sorcery

— Simon ( Acts 8:9 )

— Bar-Jesus ( Acts 13:6 )

666

— In English we use Roman letters to spell names and Arabic numbers for counting

— Hebrew, Greek, Latin used letters for both spelling and counting

— Alpha = 1; Beta = 2

— John translates Nero to Hebrew and then applies gematria system

— Nero Caesar = Nrwn Qsr

— 50 + 200 + 6 + 50 + 100 + 60 + 200 = 666

Note: Barney the purple dinosaur also fits!

Mark of the Beast

— A diabolical parody of God’s requirement for faithful Jews who are to bind the law of God on their head and on their forehead ( Douglas Wilson, p. 674 )

Chapter 14

Read and summarize

We are all Sinners

— We are all sinners and continue in sin

Paul

— “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” ( Ro 7:24-25 )

David

— David, a man after God’s heart ( 1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22 )

— Guilty of Adultery and murder ( 2 Sam 11:1-17; 12:9 )

Peter

— Peter, a leader and spokesman for the twelve

— Denied even knowing Christ three ( 3) times ( Matt 26:69-75 )

Abraham

— Called a Friend of God ( James 2:23; 2 Chron 20:7; Is 41:8 )

— Lied about Sarah being his wife

— Lied twice ( Gn 12:11-20; 20:1-18 )

We all Sin

— We all sin (Eccl 7:20; 1 Ki 8:467 )

— “For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.” ( Eccl 7:20 )

A Godly example

— Chapter 14 introduces us to 144,000 people who are a Godly example

— The most godly group the world has ever known

— 144,000 Daniels

Power ( 14:1 )

Q: What did John see in ( 14:1 )? Who else stood with him? Where else did we read of them?

( 14:1 ) Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Mount Zion

— The real earthly Mount Zion

— Also described in the OT ( Is 11:9-12; 24:23; Joel 2:32; Zech 14:4 )

— The scene shifts back to after the 6th seal has been opened and back to the opening of Chp 7

Heaven

— Some argue that this is a picture of heaven like Heb 12:22-24

— But this has to be the literal Mt Zion

— Otherwise, the 144,000 are dead

— Sealing them had no effect ( 7:3-4; 9:4 )

144,000

— These are 144,000 Jewish believers who have been marked

— Protected from being killed

— They confront sinners; call sinners to repentance

— They point to the catastrophes as righteous judgement

— Despite Satan’s best efforts they will survive to meet Christ on Mt Zion at His second coming

— Most likely they will continue their evangelistic working during the millennium

— Salvation during the millennium ( Is 60:3 )

Many do not believer

— But despite their efforts many still refuse to believe during the millennium

— They lead a rebellion against Christ ( 20:7-10 )

He will protect us

— The Lord will protect the 144,000 and bring them through the tribulation

— True of believers; true of martyrs in heaven

— We are eternally secure

— He will finish what he started ( Phil 1:6 )

— He will keep us from stumbling ( Jude 24 )

Praise ( 14:2-3 )

Q: Who else was present before the throne ( 14:3 )? What song was sung? Who sang it?

( 14:2-3 ) And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

Voice

— Described the same way ( 1:15 )

— Also by Ezekiel ( Ez 43:2 )

The Song

— The song began with

— The 4 living creatures ( 5:9-10 )

— Continued with the angels ( 5:12 )

— Every created thing in heaven ( 5:13 )

— Tribulation martyrs joined in ( 7:9-10 )

— The 144,000 join too ( 15:3-4 )

Spills Over

( 14:3 ) and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

— The song spills over to earth

— But no one could learn it except the redeemed

— Unregenerate cannot sing the song of redemption

Q: Why do you think the song is restricted to only the 144,000?

— We don’t know!

Henry Morris

— Henry Morris offers a possible explanation

“Although the words of the song of the 144,000 are not recorded, it surely dwells in part at least on the great truth that they had been redeemed from the earth ( 14:3 ), these could know the meaning of such a theme in a more profound way than others. They had been saved after the rapture, at that time in history when man’s greatest persecutions and judgements were on the earth. It was at such a time that they, like Noah ( Gn 6:8 ) had ‘had found grace in the eyes of the Lord.’ Not only had they been redeemed spiritually but … redeemed from the very curse on the earth ( Gn 3:17 ) being protected from pain and death by the guarding seal ( The Revelation Record, p.260 )

The Song

( 14:3 ) They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.

MacArthur

— The Song of Moses and the song of the lamb

Moses was a song of victory sung by the people of Israel immediately after their crossing through the Red Sea ( Exod 15:1-21; Deut 32:1-43 ). The song of the lamb refers to Christ’s sacrificial death and extols God’s powerful works in creation as He providentially upholds the universe. These two songs celebrate two great, redemptive events: ( 1 ) deliverance of Israel by God from Egypt through Moses, and ( 2 ) deliverance of sinners by God from sin through Christ. Like one gigantic choir, the redeemed of the Lord will sing and rejoice over the accomplishment of God’s entire redemptive work before Christ’s return.

Purity (14:4a)

Q: What else do we notice about the 144,000 in ( 14:4a )?

( 14:4a ) These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins

— παρθένος (parthenos). n. virgin.

— They kept themselves chaste ( NASB)

— Jesus spoke approvingly of eunuchs ( Matt 19:12 )

— Paul wished all men to have to gift of continence ( 1 Cor 7:1, 32 )

— This will be a special time, unspeakably vile and perverse

— Gross immorality, sexual perversity will be rampant

— Divine restraint will be removed ( 2 Thess 2:6-7 )

— The unbelieving world is abandoned by God ( cf. Ro 1;24, 26, 28 )

Beacons

— But these 144,000 will sine like beacons of moral purity

— In the midst of a sexually perverse society

Partisanship ( 14:4b )

Q: What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Pastor Jason uses the term all the time

( 14:4b ) These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

Followers

— They will be known as followers of Jesus Christ

— Loyal, devoted followers, the type that Jesus seeks

— “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” ( Matt 16:24 )

— Christ repeatedly told people to follow him ( Matt 9:9; 10:38; 16:24; 19:21; Mark 8:34; 9:38; 10:21; Lk 5:27; 9:23; John 8:12; 10:4, 5, 27; 12:26; 21:22 )

A Follower

— Full surrender, even to death on a cross, self renouncing faith

— Give Him first place over possessions ( Matt 19:21 )

— Self-Denial but not asceticism ( Lk 7:34 ) which characterized John the Baptist, which the Pharisees rejected

— But rather obedience, serve one another, perhaps die

— Knowing the shepherd’s voice ( Jn 10:4 )

Purpose (14:4c )

Q: What other information do we see about the 144,000? Are these descriptions literal?

( 14:4c ) These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb

— purchased from among men ( NASB )

— All believers have been purchased by God ( Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet 1:18-19 )

First Fruits

— In the OT the First Fruits were the first part of the crop to be harvested

— They were offered to God ( Deut 26:1-11 )

— Give the first to God before anything else

— This is faith in practice

— To be used in His service ( Deut 18:3-5 )

— This 144,000 will be set aside for service to God like firstfruits

Precision ( 14:5a )

( 14:5a ) And in their mouth was found no deceit

— And no lie was found in their mouth ( NASB )

— They have told no lies; ( NLT )

Lies, Lies, Lies

— All the world will be consumed with lies

— falsehoods from the false prophet

— “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” ( 2 Thess 2:9-11 )

Truth Characterizes Believers

— These 144,000 are said to speak the truth

— No deceit was found in their mouths

— Speak the word of God, God’s truth

— They will be like our Lord

— “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; ( 1 Pet 2:22 )

All Believers

— This should characterize us too

— Believers speak the truth in love ( Eph 4:15 )

— Lay aside falsehood, speak the truth ( Eph 4:25 )

— Accurately handle the Word of God ( 2 Tim 2:15 )

— “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” ( 2 Cor 4:2 )

Perfection ( 14:5b )

( 14:5b ) for they are without fault before the throne of God

— The NU omits the rest of this verse ( before the throne of God )

Blameless

— Doesn’t mean that they are sinless

— They will lead holy lives

— The 144,000 will minister during the darkest hour of mankind

— A pattern of triumphant Christian living for all believers of every age to follow

Preterist

Preterist Explanation ( 14:1-5 )

The 144,000

— The elect now in heaven

— Standing on Mt. Zion (14:1 ) but not the earthly Mt Zion

— It must be the new Jerusalem that descends from heaven

Evil Trinity

— Great Dragon ( Satan )

— Sea Beast ( Rome )

— Land Beast ( the high priests of Jerusalem)

— Those enslaved to Rome - the beast - could not buy or sell at the temple ( 13:16-17 )

The First Angel: Preaching the Gospel ( 14:6-7 )

Q: Who had a message to preach and to whom ( 14:6 )? What did he tell the people to do ( 14:7 )?

( 14:6-7 ) Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Save the earth

— Earth Day is April 22

— 50,000 organizations in 196 countries

Deck Chairs

— but if you believe the bible, its like rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic in order to get a better view

— Not a better day ahead

— But unimaginable worse days lie ahead

— God will pur out His wrath and judgement on a scale like never before seen

Judgement

— Chapters 6-11, 15-19

Satan’s Perspective

— 12 & 13 are from Satan’s perspective

— 14 is a different perspective of 7 which is a pause before the final judgment

Angel with a message

— The angel is preaching the good news concerning eternal life and entrance into the kingdom of God (cf. Mt 24:14; 1Co 15:1–10)

— He is urging the people of the world to change their allegiance from the beast to the Lamb

— It is good news that God saves by the forgiveness of sin and opens His kingdom to all who will repent and believe

— The whole world will hear this preaching by the angel as God graciously calls all to salvation

Still time

— There is still time

To whom?

( 14:6 ) having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people

— To everyone who is on the earth

— A phrase that is always used in Revelation to refer to unbelievers ( cf 3:10; 6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8 )

A Loud Voice

( 14:7 ) saying with a loud voice,

— He will be heard

— Emphasizes urgency; the final judgement is about to begin

Fear God

( 14:7 ) “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;

— Don’t fear the beast

— Don’t worship the beast

— Fear God, honor God by turning to Christ

— Only God has the right to be worshipped ( 19:10; 22:9; Is 42:8; 48:11 )

The Evidence

( 14:7 ) worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

— The angel offers evidence as the earth and heaven for reasons to worship him

— All men are without excuse ( Ro 1:20 )

— The heavens declare the glory of the Lord ( Ps 19:1 )

No Invitation

— This gospel has no invitation to believe

— Only a command to fear God

— It is directed at people who only understand fear ( Ro 1:32 )

Fear God

— The bible repeatedly calls people to fear God

— The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10, Prov 1:7, 9:10 )

— Live in fear of the Lord always ( Prov 23:17 )

— “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” ( Matt 10:28 )

Give Him Glory

— Prideful men cannot give God glory

— “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” ( Ro 1:21 )

Now or Never

( 14:7 ) for the hour of His judgment has come;

— Bowl judgments are right around the corner

— Followed by the return of Christ

— Then judgment of unbelievers

— Despite all that has happened, God in His great mercy calls sinners to repent

The Second Angel: Pronouncing Judgement ( 14:8 )

Q: On whom specifically did down fall come ( 14:8 )? Why did she fall?

( 14:8 ) And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

No Gospel

— No gospel message

— Only judgment as if no one responded

Babylon

— Anti-Christ’s world-wide empire

— Political

— Economic

— Religious

Enemy

— Babylon was a great enemy of God’s people ( Is 21:9; Jer 50:2; 51:8 )

Nimrod

— Nimrod founded Babylon ( Gen 10:9 )

— He was a powerful and prideful ruler

— A God rejecting ruler

Idolatry

— It was the site of organized religious idolatry

— False religion ( Gen 11:1-14 )

Tower

The Tower of Babel

— Expression of false religion

— God judged them

— He confused their language

— Scattered them around the world ( Gen 11:5-9 )

— Seeds of idolatry spread around the world

Passion

( 14:8 ) because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

— “who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” ( ESV)

— θυμός (thymos), passion, anger, rage, wrath

— strong consuming lusts, desires

— sexual sin will be rampant

— Here speaking of spiritual prostitution to Antichrist’s false religion

— The Final Babylon is called a harlot ( 17:1-5 )

Wine

The Wine that the courtesan gives to intoxicate in seducing someone to fornication ( cf 17:2, 4 )

The cup of God’s wrath that he gives to those whom He will severely punish ( cf. 14:10 )

( Thomas, 8-22, p.207 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation ( 14:6-8 )

The Gospel preached ( 14:6-7 )

— The gospel that was preached by the angle is not a gospel because the gospel was entrusted to the church ( Matt 28:18-20 )

Babylon ( 14:8 )

— Babylon is Jerusalem

— Corrupt leaders in Jerusalem had a cozy relationship with Rome and did not want that threatened ( Jn 11:48 )

— The women rides on the back of the 7 headed beast, Rome

The Third Angel: Promising Damnation ( 14:9-11 )

Q: What would happen to those who worship the beast and have his mark ( 14:9-11 )? Give other examples regarding drinking the wine of God’s wrath

( 14:9-11 ) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Three Angels

— 1st Gospel message rejected

— 2nd judgment pronounced

— 3rd Damnation executed

God’s Holy Judgement

( 14:9 ) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice

— God speaks with a loud voice

— So they will hear and understand

— God judges because they reject what they know is true ( Ro 1:20; 2:1 )

— “ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” ( Ro 1:20 )

God’s Wrath

( 14:10 ) he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,

— All who worship the beast will drink of God’s wrath

— Long restrained, now released

— Not impulsive

— Settled

— Deliberate

( 14:10 ) which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.

— Not diluted

— Not mixed with water or mercy

— This wine is concentrated

( 14:10 ) He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

— same noun form used in Lk 16:23

— “ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” ( Lk 16:23 )

— No lessening or diminishment

— No rest throughout eternity

( 14:10 ) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

Robert Mounce

To suffer in the presence of the hosts of heaven is not to lessen the fierceness of the judgment but to make it more grievous. Christians had borne the shame of public derision and opposition; soon their antagonists will suffer before a more August gathering ( Robert H. Mounce, The book of Revelation, 276 )

Sinners Separated

— Sinners will be separated from

— God’s presence

— loving fellowship

— But not separated from

— Sovereignty

— Omnipresence

— “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.” ( Ps 139:7-8 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation ( 14:9-12 )

The Mark (14:9 )

— Those who took the mark will suffer God’s wrath

— Not literally, “eternal fire”

— Isaiah described Edom this way ( cf. Is 34:10 )

— This is either literal or symbolic

Blessed are the Dead ( 14:12-13 )

Q: What is required of the saints in order to have this blessing ( 14:12 )?

( 14:12-13 ) Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Perseverance

( 14:12 ) Here is the patience of the saints;

— the perseverance of the saints ( NASB )

— endurance of the saints ( ESV)

Both the NLT & NIV provide commentary that is not in the text

— This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently ( NLT )

— This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God ( NIV )

Important Doctrine

— Those whom God has

— Elected

— Called

— Justified

— Will never lose their faith but endure/preserve until the end

God’s Work

— God keeps the saints by preserving / sustaining their faith

— no matter what happens

These Saints

— These saints are saved during the tribulation

— Preached at by the 2 witnesses ( 11:3-13 )

— And the 144,000 ( 7:1-8 )

— They will endure incredible persecution

— “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” ( Matt 24:21-22 )

Five Truths

Five pillars of truth about Perseverance

( 1 ) God establishes it

— Ps 37:23-34; Is 43:1-7; 45:17; 49:14-16; 51:6

— John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 1 John 2:25

( 2 ) Part of God’s purpose

— John 6:37-40

— All who are given to His Son, none will be lost

( 3 ) God’s power guarantees it

— The same power that transforms us ( 2 Cor 5:17 ) will keep us ( John 10:27-29 )

— He is greater than he who is in the world ( 1 John 4:4 )

— He can keep you from stumbling and bring you to glory ( Jude 24 )

( 4 ) All God

— We did nothing to earn it ( Eph 2:8-9 )

— We can do nothing to keep it

— All God’s grace

Our Part

— We have a responsibility to persevere

— endure until the end ( matt 20:22 )

— remain true to the Lord ( Acts 11:23 )

— Each man gets what he deserves ( Ro 2:6-8 )

— God’s part and man’s responsibility ( Col 1:21-23 )

Means Granted by God

We persevere by

— Faith ( 1 Pet 1:5; 1 Jn 5:4-5 )

— Fear ( Jer 32:40 )

— Love ( Eph 6:24 )

— Obedience ( Jn 8:31 )

— Turn from sin ( 2 Cor 7:1 )

Does not Teach

— Doctrine of Perseverance does not teach

— Be saved and live like the devil

— True believers will live by faith

— Justification followed by sanctification

( 5 ) They keep God’s word

( 14:2 ) here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

— You know those who belong to God because they keep the commandments of God

— Genuine faith results in obedience (cf. Jn 14:21; 15:14; Lk 6:46 )

— “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” ( Jn 8:31 )

— “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” ( 1 Jn 5:3 )

How they Died

Q: Who is blessed? Why ( 14:13 )

( 14:13 ) “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors,

— Not only those already dead

— Those from now on will be blessed

Rest

— Blessed because they have rest from their labors

— sorrows of life

Deeds

( 14:13 ) and their works follow them

— Paul fought the good fight

— would be rewarded ( 2 Tim 4:7-8 )

The Final Reaping of the Earth ( 14:14-20 )

Q: Who came then ( 14:14 )?

( 14:14-20 ) Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Who?

( 14:14 ) on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown,

— The Lord Jesus Christ sitting on a cloud

His coming

— humiliation ( Phil 2:6-8 )

— As a servant — Now as sovereign king

— Majesty, splendor

— Son of man to seek and save

— that which was lost ( Lk 19:10 ) — As judge of the living and the dead ( 2 Tim 4:1 )

— Came as sower — Come as reaper

Final Judgment ( 14:6-11 )

Hope ( 14:12-13 ) perseverance of the saints

Divine Wrath ( 14:14-20 )

— Will take place at the worse time in human history

— During the great tribulation ( Matt 24:21-22 )

— Isaiah calls this “a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion “ ( Is 34:8; 24:1,5; 13:11-13; 24:21-23 )

— Isaiah 63:1-6 mirrors Rev 14 and the trampling grapes in the wine press (cf. Joel 3:12-13 )

The Lord’s Analogy

— Jesus used the analogy of a harvest ( Matt 13:30; 13:39-42 )

Consistent

— Consistent in the OT and NT

— Joel, Isaiah, the Lord Jesus Christ all used the harvest as a picture of judgment

Repetition

Two pictures of judgment

— Grain Harvest ( 14:14-16 ) : 7 bowels

— Grape Harvest ( 14:17-20 ) : Armageddon

The Grain Harvest ( 14:14-16 )

Q: What is He told to do with his sickle ( 14:15-16 )?

Reap

( 14:15 ) “Thrust in Your sickle and reap,

— Time for grace is over

— No time to delay judgment

The Earth is Ripe

( 14:15 ) for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

— has become ripe ( ἐξηράνθη )

— because “I am dry “

— The harvest is

— dried up

— withered

— overripe

— rotten

— The grain is now useless, only good to be gathered up and burned with fire ( Matt 13:40 )

The 7 Bowels

— The grain reaping represents the quick rapid fire bowel judgment over the earth in Chp 16

Malignant sores on Anti-Christ believers

All ocean life killed

All fresh water turned to blood

Sun going supernova scorching heat

Darkness

Drying of the Euphrates river

The most powerful earthquake in history

The Grape Harvest ( 14:17-20 )

Q: Who appeared then ( 14:17-18 ) and what did he do? How does this differ from ( 14:15-16 )?

Another Angel

( 14:17 ) Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

— Not the son of man as in the grain harvest

The Reaper

— This angles is a reaper

— Angels play a prominent role in the judgment

— Summoning the 4 horsemen

— Sounding the 7 trumpets

— Defeating Satan

— Will pour out the 7 bowel judgments ( 16 )

— Announce the battle of Armageddon ( 19:17 )

— Bind Satan ( 20:1-3 )

The Ripeness

( 14:18 ) And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire,

Altar

— Picture of people praying ( 6:9-11; 8:3-5 )

— Martyrs are underneath praying ( 5:8 )

— associated with incense ( cf. Lk 1:10 )

— ”Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” ( Ps 141:2 )

MacArthur

Every morning and evening the Old Testament priests would take hot coals from the brazen altar ( upon which sacrifices were offered ) and bring them to the incense altar. There they would ignite the incense ( Ex 30:7-8; 2 Chron 29:11 ), which would rise toward heaven, symbolizing the prayers of God’s people ( 5:8 ). At the same time, the people outside would be praying ( Lk 1:10). ( MacArthur, 12-22, p. 177 )

Prayers Answered

— It is time for those prayers to be answered

— The angel came from the altar, where saints are praying

Q: Who is referred to as a cluster of grapes ( 14:18 )?

Cluster of Grapes

( 14:18 ) and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.”

— clusters of grapes to be cut off

Ripe

— these are ripe but not the same word as used earlier ( 14:15 )

— ἀκμάζω (akmazō)

— fully ripe, in its prime

— bursting with juice of wickedness

— ready for the harvest of righteousness

The Reaping ( 14:19-20 )

Q: What happened to these “grapes” ( 14:19 )? How severe is their punishment ( 14:20 )?

( 14:19-20 ) 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

— Those who survived the 7 terrible bowel judgments

— now thrown into the wine press

Wine Press

— Two stone basins

— grapes were trampled in the upper basin

— juice collects in the lower basin

Outside the City

— This takes place at Armageddon

— The city is protected

— The carnage of Armageddon is outside the city ( 60 miles North at Mt. Megiddo )

Armageddon

— Described in ( 19:11-21 )

— When Christ returns the

— Anti-Christ

— false prophet

— his demons

— and human allies are destroyed

— “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” ( Heb 10:31 )

Preterist

Preterist Explanation ( 14:13-20 )

The Wine Press ( (14:19 )

— Jerusalem is God’s wine press

— Jerusalem is destroyed, all those who die from this point forward are blessed

Not Global in Scale ( 14:16 )

— God puts his sickle to the earth (14:16) but context says that it is local

— the land translated “earth” should be translated “land”

— the wine press is setup outside the city of Jerusalem, so it must be local

— Blood 1,600 furlongs ( 200 miles) is imagery of the battle to come ( Is 63:1-6 )

Chapter 15

Read and summarize

The Vengeance of God ( 15:1-2 )

Q: What did John see in the next sign ( 15:1 )? Where else have we read of the sea of glass ( 15:2 ) ?

( 15:1-2 ) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

Seven Angels

— Seven angels with the last 7 bowel judgments

— The wrath of God is finished

MacArthur

This tremendous outpouring of God’s final judgmental fury was actually anticipated earlier in Revelation. It is the culmination of the great day of [ God the Father’s and Jesus Christs’ ] wrath ( 6:17 ). It is the ‘third woe’ predicted in 11:14; the time of destruction ( 11:18 ); the unmixed wine of God’s wrath ( 14:10 ); the final reaping of the earth ( 14:14-16 ); the final trampling of the grapes of God’s wrath ( 14:17-20 ). ( MacArthur, 12-22, p. 123 )

Saw Earlier

( 15:2 ) And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire... standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

— Not real water

— John saw the same thing earlier ( 4: 6 )

— Moses had a vision of it as well ( Ex 24:10 )

Fire

— Mingled with fire

— God’s judgement

Unbelievers condemned

— Unbelievers are condemned because they mistreated God’s people ( cf. Matt 25:41-45 )

— God likens persecuting his people to poking God in the eye ( Zech 2:8 )

— Psalmist also spoke of God’s vengeance for His people ( Pss 94:1-10, 21-23 )

The Character of God ( 15:3-4 )

Q: What is the song of Moses ( 15:3-4 )? What did those who sang in Revelation say? Why should people glorify God?

( 15:3-4 ) They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Motive

— The motive behind God’s wrath is His holy, righteous character demands it

— This song is an anthem of praise celebrating His holy, righteous character

Song of Moses

— When Israel crossed the Red Sea, they sang a song of Praise ( Ex 15:1-8 )

Deliverance

— The Israelites sang a song of deliverance

— Delivered from Pharaohs army

— Also a song of judgment / wrath against Israel’s enemies - the Egyptian army

— Here, tribulation saints gathered in triumph, safety, security, echo the same song

Song of the lamb

( 15:3 ) and the song of the Lamb

— They also sang the song of the lamb

— first hear earlier ( 5:8-14 )

John Phillips

The song of Moses was sung at the Red Sea, the Song of the Lamb is sung at the Crystal Sea.

The song of Moses was a song of triumph over Egypt, the Song of the Lamb is a song of triumph over Babylon.

The song of Moses told how God brought His people out, the Song of the Lamb tells how God brings His people in.

The song of Moses was the first song in Scripture, the Song of the Lamb is the last

The song of Moses commemorated the execution of the foe, the expectation of the saints and the exaltation of the Lord, the Song of the Lamb deals with the same three themes ( Phillips, Exploring Revelation, p.187 )

His Character

— God’s character is that He is omnipotent, immutable, sovereign, perfect, righteous creator and judge

— Because He is all that, God must and will judge sinners ( MacArthur, 12-22, p.130-131 )

The Plan of God ( 15:5-8 )

Q: What did John see then ( 15:5 )? What is the significance of the temple being open? What came from the temple ( 15:6 )? What was given to the angels ( 15:7 )? What do the golden bowls represent ? What filled the temple ( 15:8 )?

( 15:5-8 ) After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Temple

— A temple in heaven

— ναὸς (naos) refers to the holy of holies

Robert Thomas

This particular room was the location of the tablets of God’s law so blatantly disregarded by the earth dwellers ( 9:20-21 ). God is about to enforce these standards on a rebellious earth through the judgements of the seven last plagues ( Thomas, 8-22, p.242 )

Pulls back the curtain

— Earlier God pulled back the curtain so we could see the splendor of His throne ( 4:1ff )

— Now, he pulls back the curtain to the holy of holies ( 15:5 ) to see the most severe judgment on the unfaithful

7 Angels

( 15:6 ) And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands

Smoke

( 15:8 ) The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed

— Smoke, God’s wrath

Wrath

Once the wrath of God was poured out on Jesus Christ because of what he did for sinners. In the future, wrath will be poured out on sinners because of what they did to Jesus Christ ( MacArthur, 12-22, p.133 )

By this time

— by this time people will have been warned many times and told to repent

— Numerous judgments which they realize came from God ( 6:16-17 )

— They heard the 144,000 Jewish evangelist

— The two witnesses

— The angel flying in heaven

Hardened

— They will harden and fall into calamity ( Prov 28:14 )

— God will remember mercy ( Hab 3:2 )

— He wishes all to repent, none to perish ( 2 Pet 3:9 )

Mercy Refused

— But mercy refused brings judgment

Preterist

Preterist Explanation

The last plagues

— The final judgement of Jerusalem

Mingled with Fire ( 15:2 )

— Cleansing in heaven, as opposed to mass destruction of ocean

θάλασσα (thalassa), sea; lake

— the word thalassa is translated as Lavar in Septuagint ( 1 Ki 7:23 )

— “lavar” which OT priest washed themselves

Saints

— The saints who survived Nero’s persecution are given harps

Additional Resources

Barnhouse, Donald Grey. Revelation: an Expository Commentary. Zondervan Pub. House, 1971.

DeMar, Gary. Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church. American Vision, 1999.

MacArthur, John. Revelation 8-22. Moody Press, 2000.

MacArthur, John. Revelation: the Christian's Ultimate Victory. Thomas Nelson, 2016.

Thomas, Robert L. Revelation: an Exegetical Commentary. Moody Press, 2016.

J Vernon McGee.

Chuck Missler.

Phillips, John. Exploring Revelation, Rev Ed . Chicago, Moody , 1987.