THE STUDY OF REVELATION

Transcription

1 THE STUDY OF REVELATION 1

2 Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier At Sunrise Bible Church Las Vegas, NV 2

3 Behold I Come Quickly Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 3

4 Behold I Come Quickly. The Study of Revelation Lesson 31 4

5 Opening Prayer 5

6 Behold I Come Quickly The Study of Revelation Lesson 31 THE COSMIC BATTLE AND THE REMNANT {REV 12:7-17} 6

7 THE COSMIC BATTLE 7

8 THE COSMIC BATTLE In the last lesson we saw a great Cosmic Battle prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Gen 3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 8

9 THE COSMIC BATTLE Now, notice some similarity between this Cosmic Battle and the War in Heaven of Revelation 12:7-10. REV 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. (Continued) 9

10 THE COSMIC BATTLE 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 10

11 THE COSMIC BATTLE As we saw in our last lesson, besides the Cosmic Battle, Genesis 3:14-15 represent the judgment of Satan for his rebellion in the Garden. I believe Revelation 12:7-10 to be the beginning of the end of the Cosmic Battle begun in Genesis 3:15, as Satan is now expelled from access to Heaven and now dwells on the earth. Michael, not the dragon, initiates the "war 11 in heaven."

12 THE COSMIC BATTLE This is a war fought for the purpose of expelling Satan from access to heaven. That Michael is here shows that the nation of Israel is involved, since Daniel 12:1 says that Michael is the angel representing the people of Israel. It is Daniel 12:1 that predicts this event described in Revelation 12:7 through 10. This also marks the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3-1/2 years. 12

13 PERSON 4: THE COSMIC BATTLE Rev 12:7 The protector of Israel. Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 13

14 THE COSMIC BATTLE Remember that the time of Jacob s trouble fixed the Tribulation as Jacob s trouble, not the church s trouble. Jeremiah specifically confirmed this as follows: Jer 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. (Continued) 14

15 THE COSMIC BATTLE 4 And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? (Continued) 15

16 THE COSMIC BATTLE 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he [Jacob (Israel)] shall be saved out of it. The purpose of the Tribulation is for the salvation of the Jewish nation. The Tribulation is not the time of the church s trouble. It is Israel s trouble, and he, Israel, will be saved out of it. 16

17 THE COSMIC BATTLE Let s now return to our study of Revelation 12. According to some Bible commentators the "war in heaven" may be a continuing war through the ages that will finally culminate in mid-tribulation with Satan and his angels finally being expelled from their access to heaven. There are a number of Scriptures that support the view that Satan still, at the present time, has access to heaven. 17

18 THE COSMIC BATTLE Remember that Satan will be first bound for a thousand years after Christ s return and again released at the end of the Millennium, after which he will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Notice that the term "sons of God" refers to angels. JOB 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 18

19 THE COSMIC BATTLE JOB 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 19

20 THE COSMIC BATTLE ZEC 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 20

21 THE COSMIC BATTLE Thus, until this moment Satan has had access to the throne room of God, accusing the brethren before God day and night. It's ironic that the "father of lies" in his accusations before the throne of God need not invent his accusations. We provide him with all the ammunition that he needs. 21

22 THE COSMIC BATTLE Except for Jesus, our advocate, we would be defeated, for Satan's tales about us are true, though most probably he distorts and magnifies them. From the time of the deception of Eve, Satan continues to deceive the world. EPH 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 22

23 THE COSMIC BATTLE ROM 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 23

24 THE COSMIC BATTLE After Satan's fall he and his angels found their abode in the air, but Satan still had access to heaven. After this war he is barred from heaven and he and his satanic angelic horde are cast from the air to the earth. Satan's next stop is destined to be the abyss, and finally the lake of fire. 24

25 THE COSMIC BATTLE It is most revealing that this war is fought in heaven where sin originated in the soul of Satan. We have a glimpse into the reason that at the very end God makes a new heaven and a new earth, for Satan defiled both realms. The purpose of this war is to cast Satan from access to heaven. 25

26 THE COSMIC BATTLE This chapter deals with the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation, and their Messiah. This chapter is not dealing with the church; the context is Israel in the Tribulation. Michael is the leader of the army of God that battles Satan and casts him from heaven. Michael is the angelic chief prince set over Israel in the spirit world. 26

27 THE COSMIC BATTLE Notice this about the Cosmic Battle: DAN 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. 27

28 THE COSMIC BATTLE DAN 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. Jude refers to Michael as "the archangel." JUD 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 28

29 THE COSMIC BATTLE The kingdoms of this world are secretly ruled on Satan's behalf from the spirit realm by satanic angels, or "principalities." When God made a nation of Abraham, Satan had no angelic prince over it. Michael, the archangel, was set over Israel by God. It is Michael that defends Israel in the spiritual realm. 29

30 THE COSMIC BATTLE Henry Morris gives this insight into the deception perpetrated on the earth by Satan: Note especially the amazing assertion that he [Satan] has been the deceiver of the whole world. All the world's high-sounding philosophies, conceived ever so brilliantly by profound thinkers. all are man-originated, man-centered, and man-honoring, rather than God-originated, God-centered, and Godhonoring. (Continued) 30

31 THE COSMIC BATTLE They are all merely varieties of humanism, rather than theism, exalting man rather than God and thus helping to carry out Satan's attempt to dethrone God. (Henry Morris, The Revelation Record) Satan's ultimate deception is convincing men that "God is not the ultimate reality, and that the universe itself is the only eternal entity." (Henry Morris, The Revelation Record) 31

32 THE COSMIC BATTLE Morris also gives this insight into Satan's thought processes: The Devil has effectively deceived the whole world, therefore, utilizing the same monstrous deception with which he has deceived himself. He apparently believes that, since matter is the ultimate reality, rather than the God who claimed to have created him, he can somehow succeed in dethroning God and placing himself on God's throne. This is the conflict of the ages. (Henry Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD) 32

33 THE BLOOD AND THE TESTIMONY 33

34 THE BLOOD & THE TESTIMONY REV 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. These are the three methods by which the Saints prevailed and overcame Satan. The "blood of the Lamb" that takes away the sins of the world is our only means of victory over sin. 34

35 THE BLOOD & THE TESTIMONY The Saints (the godly remnant) lived their lives as a living testimony of Jesus Christ, just as we also must. MAT 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. They "loved not their lives unto death," for it is written: MAT 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 35

36 THE THIRD WOE 36

37 THE THREE WOES REV 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. All heaven rejoices that Satan is cast out, but the earth does not rejoice. Satan is now furious and is working feverishly because he has only 3 1/2 years 37 left.

38 THE THREE WOES The earth will not only face God s wrath, but Satan s wrath as well. As we saw in Revelation 8:13 a flying angel proclaimed three woes on the earth. REV 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! 38

39 THE THREE WOES In Revelation 8:13 a flying angel proclaims three "woes" on earth's inhabitants. This signifies that the next three trumpets are to be worse than the previous four. The phrase inhabiters of the earth or earth dwellers is used throughout Scripture to indicate unbelievers, who are against God, particularly the followers of the Antichrist. 39

40 THE THREE WOES 1. The first woe was completed by the Fifth Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 9:1-12 and the release of the demon locusts to torment rebellious man. 2. The second woe was completed by the Sixth Trumpet Judgment of Revelation 9:12-21 and the demon army. 3. The "woe" pronounced in Revelation 12:12 is "the third woe" predicted in Revelation 8:13 and 11:14; and that woe is Satan s vengeful wrath released on the unbelieving 40 earth dwellers.

41 THE THREE WOES REV 11:14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 41

42 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 42

43 A DRAGON IN A HURRY REV 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. The "woman" is the godly remnant of Israel. Israel brought forth the Messiah. During these final 3 1/2 years Satan will launch a great persecution of Israel. Satan s purpose is to destroy Israel. 43

44 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Satan knows that if he can destroy Israel he can foil God s purpose. The purpose of the Tribulation is for the salvation of the Jewish nation and the establishment of the promised Messianic Kingdom (Millennium). REV 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 44

45 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Jesus in Matthew 24 says the following: Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 45

46 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 46

47 A DRAGON IN A HURRY In Revelation 12:6 we saw that God prepared a place for her. Now in Revelation 12:14, God provides "two wings" with which she can speedily flee to the place he has prepared for her. There she is to be protected for "a time, and times, and half a time" (3-1/2 years). 47

48 A DRAGON IN A HURRY The eagle's wings signify miraculous swiftness. ISA 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 48

49 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Now notice the similarity of the timeframe in Revelation 12:14 with Daniel's timeframe: DAN 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. The timeframes are the same, 3-1/2 years. 49

50 A DRAGON IN A HURRY REV 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. It is suggested that the "flood" refers to a literal flood in an attempt to destroy her or an invading army sent to kill the children of Israel similar to that found in Isaiah 59:19. 50

51 A DRAGON IN A HURRY ISA 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. 20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 51

52 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Alternately, David Levy indicates that the wording like a flood makes it difficult to tell whether the flood should be interpreted literally or figuratively. However, he believes that it refers to a huge army sent by Satan to destroy the fleeing Israelites near the midpoint of the Tribulation. John Walvoord also believe that the wording is symbolic, but agrees that the interpretation is uncertain. 52

53 A DRAGON IN A HURRY I believe that it could refer to either a literal flood or a huge army. For additional support for the flood referenced here being symbolic see also Jeremiah 46:8 when the Egyptian armies came against Babylon. JER 46:8 Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof. 53

54 A DRAGON IN A HURRY The location where the Israelites flee may be the general direction of Petra as previously discussed. The reason is that when Christ returns He comes to Edom where He takes vengeance on the people of Bosrah and possibly delivers a remnant of Jewish believers. This can be seen in the fact that Edom escapes destruction by Antichrist during the Tribulation. 54

55 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Dan 11:41 He [Antichrist] shall enter also into the glorious land [Israel], and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. Then we see Christ at His Second Coming coming toward Jerusalem described by Isaiah as follows: 55

56 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Isa 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? (Continued) 56

57 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Continued) 57

58 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. 58

59 A DRAGON IN A HURRY REV 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. God will supernaturally protect the woman. If it is a real flood, then we can parallel God's protection of the fleeing Israel with the drowning of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea. Notice this verse in Isaiah: 59

60 A DRAGON IN A HURRY ISA 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. 16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. 60

61 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Isaiah provides an obvious parallel to the real crossing of the Red Sea, which is found in Exodus. EXO 14:26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. (Continued) 61

62 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. (Continued) 62

63 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. 63

64 A DRAGON IN A HURRY REV 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Satan will be frustrated in his attempt to destroy Israel, but he will keep trying until the very end of the Tribulation. This may refer to the attempt by Satan to destroy the 144,000 Jewish believers. 64

65 A DRAGON IN A HURRY There are 144,000 Jewish believers sealed and protected by God. There is the third of the remaining Jews, the remnant, which will flee to Petra to be protected by God. Sadly, the remaining two-thirds of Israel will die at the hands of Antichrist. PERSON 5: Rev 12:17 The godly Jewish Remnant. We shall see more players in the next 65 lesson.

66 A DRAGON IN A HURRY Zech 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. (Continued) 66

67 A DRAGON IN A HURRY 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. 67

68 End of The Study of REVELATION Lesson 31 68

69 Closing Prayer 69

70 Creation Revelation Robert & Mary Tozier At Sunrise Bible Church Las Vegas, NV 70