Study of End Times week 6

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Week 6 - The Golden Key to the Book of Revelation

Last week we looked at Jesus holds the Keys, we seen the title, target group, subject, author, publisher, dedication, and then we seen four things about the Lord Jesus Christ: His grace, glory, gentleness, and government.

Tonight we are looking at the Golden Key which helps us to better understand the Book of Revelation. That is there is three sections to Revelation, the first two are short, with the last section taking up the majority of the the book.

The Golden Key

Revelation 1:19 CSB

19 Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.

The Lord Jesus commissioned John to write three things.

First, what you have seen. What did John see? A vision of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is things that are past.

Second, Jesus told him to write about what is. This refers to the present things - the church age, which is recorded in chapters 2 and 3.

In that time there were seven churches in Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

While these were actual churches, they represent all churches throughout all ages, even including in today’s time. Today we are still living in the church age, and in the second section the what is - the present things.

Third, is what will take place after this. The remain chapters of Revelation, chapters 4 - 22 make of this last section, this final part, what we refer to as the prophetic time.

These things tell us that Jesus has come. Jesus is here today with us. And He is coming again.

The Book of Revelation gives us a look at history and the future from the eyes of God. Not a guess, but a sure word from Almighty God. Now let’s look at a panoramic view of prophecy as told in the Book of Revelation.

The Rapture of the Church and the Departure of the Saints

Revelation 4:1 CSB

1 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

From this verse to the end of the book, the word church is no longer mentioned because the church will be raptured by that point.

According to Revelation, the rapture occurs before the tribulation, and the church then stands before the judgment seat of Christ and attends the marriage feast of the Lamb. Those who remain on earth will enter the great tribulation.

The rapture will constitute the end of the church age. We will see this in more detail in a few weeks.

A voice like a trumpet will shout, Come up hither!

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 CSB

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This is not the second coming as Jesus never steps foot on earth only comes in the clouds.

When will the rapture take place? at any moment. We are not looking for some sign. We are not looking for some prophecy to be fulfilled before Jesus can come for His church. it could happen before this service is over.

Luke 12:40 CSB

40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Jesus is coming like a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 CSB

2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

A burglar never writes a note and says, I’ll be at your house tonight. Do you believe that? If you really believe it, then be ready.

The Rise of the Beast and the Deceptions of the Devil

The church is the salt of the earth. So when the church is raptured, that which preserves, heals, and restrains is removed. This ungodly world system resents salty saints.

It wishes we were gone. And one day we will be. That is when corruption will really set in and the beast, with devilish deception, will come on scene.

Revelation 13:1–3 (CSB)

1 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. [in Bible prophecy the sea represents peoples and nations, in turmoil] It had ten horns and seven heads [seven is the perfect number; ten is the complete number; heads speak of wisdom; ten horns speak of power]. On its horns were ten crowns [this speaks of dominion], and on its heads were blasphemous names [this speaks of his character; he blasphemes God]. 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon [Satan] gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of its heads appeared to be fatally wounded, but its fatal wound was healed.

The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.

Satan’s superman, who is also called the Antichrist (the counterfeit Christ), is coming into this world. And when he does, he will turn the world into a vast concentration camp with all of the inmates numbered.

No one will be able to buy or sell unless they have the validating mark given by this man, who is the beast.

John Phillips has described the beast in this way:

He will be a most attractive person - a genuine savior to a world careening like an express train without throttle, wide open, out of control, and without a man at the helm. No doubt his personal charm will be great, his intellectual genius immense, his wealth and influence proverbial, his authority overpowering, his passions and hatreds extraordinary, his organizing shill unsurpassed, his techniques superb. Men will follow him to death. Women will swoon at his feet and children will say his name as savior of the world and the hope of mankind. Yet for all of that, he will be totally and thoroughly bad. He is the man of sin.

The Great Tribulation and the Devastation of the Earth

Jesus was once the sacrificial Lamb, but He will not always be that way. The Lamb becomes the Lion.

Revelation 6:12–17 CSB

12 Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; 13 the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; 14 the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”

During the tribulation, not only will the beast deceive the nations, but God will also pour out His fury upon the world. It will be so terrible that people will desire to die and will not be able to do so. Death will flee from them.

In this panorama of prophecy, first there will be the rapture, second will come the rise of the beast, and third will be the great tribulation, which will last for seven years. there has never been a time like this. Hell will have a holiday.

Calamities across the world will occur - hail, fire, a burning mountain cast into the sea, a bitter star named Wormwood that poisons the waters, boils, cosmic darkness, locusts (which are really demon spirits), horseman who ride forth to bring pestilence, and the worship of the Antichrist.

The vials of God’s wrath will be poured out. the sea and rivers will turn to blood. There will be great heat and great darkness. The Euphrates River will dry up. It will be horrible beyond description.

Armageddon and the Defeat of the Beast and His Armies

The tribulation will end with a battle called Armageddon. At this battle the beast and his armies will be defeated.

Revelation 16:13–16 (CSB)

13 Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming from the dragon’s mouth [Satan], from the beast’s mouth [the Antichrist], and from the mouth of the false prophet [who counterfeits the Holy Spirit]. 14 For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” 16 So they assembled the kings at the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

The vast plain you can see from atop Mount Megiddo in Israel is where the battle of Armageddon will take place.

Revelation 19:11–16 CSB

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What a day this will be! The Antichrist will come and rally the demon spirits to draw the world leaders to fight against the Jews and Jerusalem.

Then Jesus will come in power and great glory to judge Babylon the Great. At this time He will be coming not for his saints (they will have already been raptured). But instead Jesus will be coming with his saints to defeat the beast and his armies. He will fight the battle with one weapon - the sword in His mouth.

What is this sword? Well we see it used in the Garden of Gethsemane, as Judas walks up to deny Jesus to the Roman guards, and the Jewish officials.

John 18:4–6 CSB

4 Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Who is it that you’re seeking?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “I am he,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. 6 When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.

When Jesus said I am he, the people stepped back and fell to the ground, the words that came forth out of Jesus’ mouth are so powerful that they cause people to fall to the ground.

So the sword that is in Jesus mouth is, the very words that he speaks.

The Millennial Reign of Peace and the Dominion of Jesus

Revelation 20:1–6 CSB

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven holding the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the thousand years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

These thousand years will be signified by the reign of Christ, when the lamb and the lion will lie down together. It will be a millennium of peace. And Satan will get the longest prison sentence in history.

The Prophet Habakkuk described it like this:

Habakkuk 2:14 CSB

14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.

Isaiah said:

Isaiah 2:4 CSB

4 He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

We are encouraged to pray for peace in:

Psalm 122:6 CSB

6 Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure;

However, there will be ultimate peace in the Middle East only when Jesus comes to rule and to reign. How we need to pray for the second coming of the Lord jesus Christ!

Can you imagine what the millennial reign of Jesus Christ will be like? No war, no disease, and worldwide peace!

The Final Judgment and the Doom of the Lost

Revelation 20:11–15 CSB

11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

How does the millennial reign of Jesus Christ end? With the final judgment of every unsaved man, woman, boy, and girl standing before the great white throne of Jesus Christ.

John 5:22–23 CSB

22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

Why does God delay the final judgment until this time? Because the waves of sin have not yet hit the shores of eternity. When you drop a pebble in a lake, the ripples radiate outward to the shoreline.

Just the same the ripples of sin go on and on, even after death they can effect generations, think of alcoholism, it can effect generation after generation. The effects of divorce can ripple into other generations.

Therefore, at the end of the millennial reign, the great white judgment will take place, God will place the period on the last sentence in the final paragraph on the final page in the book of history, and mankind will experience cumulative judgment.

The unsaved will be judged and cast into the lake of fire.

The Final State and the Destiny of Mankind

Revelation 21:6–8 CSB

6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

When God created you with a soul, body, and mind, He made you in His image.You could not more cease to exist than God Himself could cease to exist. For all time your soul will exist somewhere.

When the moon and stars fall, the sun is darkened, the mountains crumble, the sky is split, and Jesus comes with His blood-washed armies of heaven, where will your soul be?

Revelation 22:17 CSB

17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.

Where will you spend eternity?

Have you partaken of the living water? Another words have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?