Revelation. The Unveiling of Jesus Christ

Transcription

1 Revelation The Unveiling of Jesus Christ 1

2 More studies available at Ruth Romans Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Hebrews James 2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights Reserved This study was written using the ESV. 2

3 Revelation 1 Day 1: Background Written by John, one of the sons of Zebedee, and a disciple of Jesus, Revelation gives us one of the most awesome pictures of Christ as the final Victor and Conqueror. Written during the end of the reign of the Emperor Domitian in about AD 95, the church was being persecuted and feeling the heat of tribulation. The message of hope and victory must have been an encouragement to the churches in those days. Revelation promises that we will be blessed if we read, hear and keep the words of this prophecy so it is well worth our time to study it. Read Revelation 1-3 today to get an overall feel for this section. 3

4 Day 2: Overview As you read chapter 1, mark the following words: Jesus Christ (and all pronouns or references) God Spirit (seven spirits) write see (seen, saw) churches After reading chapter one, answer the following questions. Who is the book of Revelation about? According to verse 1, why was the book given to us? What is it going to tell us about? Who wrote the book of Revelation? How was the message delivered to him? Note the progression laid out in verses 1-2. What benefits are associated with hearing and studying Revelation? Note the verse that mentions them and who will benefit. According to verse 3, what type of writing is the book of Revelation? 4

5 What does verse 2 tell us about John? In the Greek, the word for witness is martureo, where we get the English word for martyr. According to tradition, John died a martyr s death when he was submerged in a pot of hot oil. To be a witness simply means to tell about what you have seen, but because his witness was about Jesus, John paid the ultimate price with his life. According to verses 4 and 11, who is the book written to? How does John describe himself in the first part of verse 9? Where was John when he wrote the book? Why was he here? Patmos is a small island (10 miles by six miles) in the Aegean Sea. The Romans used to send political exiles here. John s mention of the island in verse 9 probably means that he was a prisoner here, but he was sent here for preaching about Jesus. Eusebius (an early church father) wrote that John was sent to Patmos by Emperor Domitian in AD 95 and released after a year and a half. Verse 19 gives us a basic outline for the book of Revelation. What three things was John to write about? After reading chapter 1, which of those three does this chapter fall into? 5

6 Day 3: Revelation 1:1-11 Read chapter 1 again. Yesterday you should have marked every occurrence of God in chapter one. So now let s first take note of what we learn about God. How is God the Father described in verse 4? This description of God is used three times in the book of Revelation (also 1:8 and 4:8). It is the name of God that shows He is eternal and self-existent. The book of Revelation is going to describe some pretty terrifying and amazing acts of God. Only a God who needs nothing else to exist could showcase this kind of power. What four names are used to describe God the Father in verse 8? Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. When God describes himself in this way, it not only means that he is the first and the beginner of all things, but it also carries with it the idea that he is the most important. Omega is the last letter in the Greek alphabet. This word refers to the last in an inclusive series and when used in reference to God it also signifies an all-inclusive sphere of authority and high status. Also, as we will see in the study of this book, it is God who brings all things to completion. Lord is a term used to show that God is the supernatural authority over mankind. The term God highlights him as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Finally God is referred to as the Almighty, literally the All-Powerful one. Clearly from these names of God, we see that He is above all in authority and importance, he controls everything and He alone is the Almighty. We will see all these attributes of God as we study the book of Revelation. And the awesome thing is, this is the God who is extending grace and peace to us! 6

7 Who do you think the words seven spirits refers to in verse 4? This term is not used anywhere else in the Bible except in the book of Revelation, where it is used four times. Given the fact that God and Jesus are mentioned as givers of grace and peace and the seven spirits are mentioned with them, it probably refers to the Holy Spirit in all his fullness, as seven is a number signifying completion. Record everything you learn about Jesus in verses 5-7. Jesus is described as the faithful witness. Read John 18:37. What has Jesus been faithful to witness or give us testimony about? Ten times in the book of Revelation Jesus is described as being true. We can trust what he says and what he does. Next he is described as the firstborn from the dead. Read Acts 26:23 to help you understand what this phrase means. There were others before Jesus who were raised from the dead, but Jesus was the first and only to raise himself from the dead. The others who were raised, would die again. Jesus died once for all and now lives eternally having defeated the power of death. Jesus is the ruler of kings on earth. In Revelation 17 and 19, Jesus is called the King of Kings and Lord of lords. He is above even the most important king here on earth and He alone will be worshipped and adored. Next John reminds us of what Jesus has done for us. He loves us! He proved it when he freed us from our sins by shedding his own blood. We are free! Sin has 7

8 no power over us because the of the victory that Jesus has won for us. Jesus also gave us the awesome privilege to be a kingdom of priests to God. In the Old Testament, the priests were the only one who could come in before God. They would speak and make sacrifices on behalf of the people. The ordinary people were excluded from this type of relationship. But when Jesus died, he tore the veil and opened the way for those who come to him in faith, to have open access to him as priests. Look up Revelation 5:10 and 20:6. What wonderful privilege will also be ours because we now hold the title of priests? Revelation really is a book telling us how to worship. We will look at several places in the book where people are one their faces worshipping the King of Kings. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, John says that glory and dominion should be his forever and ever! Glory is where God s attributes and works are made very apparent for all to see so that the result is people honor, worship and praise him. Dominion is the power to rule or control. None other has the authority or the ability to rule like Jesus. John says Jesus glory and dominion will be forever. Amen! May it be so! Compare verse 7 with Daniel 7: Write down everything you learn about when Jesus comes in the clouds from these verses. This is the picture that we will see of Jesus in the book of Revelation. He is portrayed as the exalted and glorified Christ. What a wonderful day it will be when Jesus is revealed and recognized as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Again verses 5-7 tie back in to verse 4. This is the Savior who has extended grace and peace to us! He deserves our complete worship and adoration forever! 8

9 Day 4: Revelation 1:10-16 Read Revelation 1 again. Today we will take a look at the vision that John is given of Jesus. Sometimes God has to remove all other distractions and voices so we can clearly hear and see him. This is what he did for John. When John was exiled, it might not have seemed like a good thing, but what resulted was an incredible picture of the things to come, more complete than anything else we have in Scripture. John was in the Spirit so we know these were not his own words. He received this message from God. What did John hear to get his attention? How would you describe the sound of a trumpet? What does this tell you about the message? From verse 12, what did John see? What does verse 20 say they represent? What was in the middle of the lampstands? I love that Jesus was in the middle of the churches. They were undergoing persecution for their faith and Jesus was right there with them! He did not leave them in their time of trial. Does Jesus seem distant during your suffering? He is there my friend! He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). John saw one like the son of man. Daniel used this term in the visions he saw as well (Daniel 7:13). And Jesus referred to himself in this way in the gospels. 9

10 There is no way that John can describe a glorified vision of Jesus so he uses imagery. How was he dressed? The robe he was wearing could signify his position as Judge or High Priest. Isaiah 11 is a prophecy about Jesus. What does Isaiah 11:5 say that his belt represents? In verse 14, what significance do you think is the emphasis on his white hair? Compare Daniel 7:9. In Daniel, God is described as the Ancient of Days. His white hair perhaps is a reference to the dignity and respect he should receive. How are his eyes described? The same description is also used in Revelation 2:18 and 19:12. Perhaps this refers to inescapable scrutiny. None can hide from his gaze or escape his examination. What description is given regarding his feet? Jesus voice is described like the roar of many waters. Read Psalm 29:3-9. What attributes would you ascribe to His voice after reading these verses? What is he holding in his right hand? See verse 20 for an explanation of what this means. 10

11 Angel simply means a messenger. The fact that Jesus held the angels in his hand speaks of his possession, authority and control over them. What is coming out of his mouth? Read Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12. What does the sword represent in these verses? Read Revelation 19:15. What does this verse say about the sword of his mouth? This speaks of the power of His Word. He created the world simply by speaking, and He will defeat his enemies and rule over them only by His Word! We serve a mighty Savior! How is Jesus face described? This must have reminded John of when he saw Jesus at the transfiguration in Matthew 17:2. Jesus face was described the same way there. When the sun is shining, you cannot look straight at it because it is too bright. John was trying to help us visualize Jesus glory. He is too wonderful for us take in. Remember that John had seen Jesus face to face and walked and talked with him while he was here on earth. But now, John sees a glorified Christ and his response is much different. Tomorrow we will look at John s response to what he saw. 11

12 Day 5: Revelation 1:17-20 Read chapter 1 again. What was John s response when he saw this vision? In the last few years several books have come out about near death experiences and trips to heaven. But I have noticed these people s casual responses differ greatly from the responses in Scripture where people saw the Lord. Read Matthew 17:1-7, Daniel 10:5-10,15 and Ezekiel 1: What did these people do when they saw the glory of God? Falling on our faces in reverent worship is the only appropriate response when we see the glorified Christ. What is Jesus response to John? Jesus did the same thing in Matthew 17:7 at the transfiguration. We are to respect and honor the Lord, but He does not want us to be afraid. What does Jesus say about himself in verses 17-18? Because Jesus arose from the dead, what do these verses say about Him? Romans 6:9 Romans 14:9 12

13 The fact that Jesus has the keys to Death and Hades shows that he has control and authority over them. Read Revelation 20:1-3 and note what will happen because Jesus holds the keys. John has just seen a vision of the glorified Christ. He has seen the Righteous Judge of all the earth that sees all and knows all. His voice is powerful and His Word has authority. He has defeated death and now lives forever and He is standing in the midst of the persecuted churches. John is overcome and falls down on his face in worship. Every time in the Bible where people see a vision of the Lord it is because God has a something He wants them to do. The disciples were to be his witnesses, and Ezekiel and Isaiah were told to go speak to rebellious Israel. After seeing Christ in all his glory, all of them obeyed! What was John told to do? Again, verse 19 is a key verse in the book of Revelation and gives us a helpful breakdown of the book. Chapter 1 talks about the things you (John) have seen Chapters 2-3 talk about those that are Chapters 4-22 will talk about those that are to take place after this. John understood what he was seeing, but certain aspects of the vision might have been confusing to him, so Jesus clarifies what he saw. In verse 20, what do the seven stars in Jesus right hand represent? What do the seven golden lampstands represent? 13

14 After reading chapter 1, what description of Jesus has been the most encouraging to you? Why? What do you think is the theme of chapter 1? 14

15 Day 6: EPHESUS: Revelation 2:1-7 Revelation 2 Now we come to the second section of the book of Revelation - things that are. John is told to write to the seven churches in Asia Minor. The map below shows their location and they are numbered in the order they are listed in Revelation. Also, this could possibly have been the order and the route the carrier of the book took when he delivered John s message to them. They are relatively close in proximity to one another (not much more than 50 to 60 miles apart), but each church had their own victories and struggles. The island of Patmos is just off the coast from the church of Ephesus. The church of Ephesus was founded by Paul about years before this was written. Paul wrote his letter to them in about AD 60 and the book of Revelation was written somewhere around AD

16 As you read chapter 2, mark the following words and phrases: to the angel of the church in write any references to Jesus repent conquers Spirit churches hold fast Let s take a quick look at the background of the church at Ephesus. Read Acts 19:1-20. What type of city was Ephesus when Paul visited it? What happened when people believed the gospel message? In Ephesians 1:15, what does Paul commend the church for? Now we jump ahead 35 years or so and see the condition of the church when John writes to them. In verse 1, angel just means messenger. Some think that the messenger or angel could be the pastors or elders of these churches. From everything you learned in chapter 1, who is it that holds the seven starts in his right hand and walks among the lampstands? These are his words! What commendation does he give the church at Ephesus? 16

17 So this sounds pretty good. Their works and their teaching are sound and they hadn't tired in their service for the Lord. But was the reproof to this church? Somewhere along the way, this church abandoned what they had first loved. Read Mark 12: What did Jesus say was the most important thing? Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. What does Paul say about good works without love? So even though this church was doing good works, because they were not done in love, they were works of the flesh and worthless. In the book of 1 John, John has a lot to say about love. Read 1 John 2: According to these verses, what three things cause us to love the world instead of the Father? Read James 4:4-5. What does this verse tell us that friendship with the world is? So there is no middle ground. We cannot love God and the world at the same time. They are mutually exclusive. So because the church at Ephesus had lost its love for God, I think it is safe to say they were loving the world now instead. They looked good on the outside, but God saw their heart and knew their works were not motivated by love for Him. How it grieves God when we turn away from him and choose the world instead. Here we see Jesus calling the church of Ephesus back to himself. 17

18 What instructions does he give the church in verse 5? The remedy for their loveless state was to remember and repent! Jesus tells them to remember from where they have fallen. The command to remember is a verb of continuous repeated action. They were to keep remembering how they used to love the Lord and had fallen away from him. Then they were to repent (change their mind about their sin). When they repented and changed their mind about their sin, what would follow according to verse 5? What works were they doing at first that they were not doing now? God is not fooled by our good works. He sees our heart. We may impress people by the things we do or say, but when not fueled by our love for the Lord, it is meaningless. Jesus is graciously extending open arms to this adulterous church. If they will repent and come back to Him, He is eager to receive them. What is the warning given to Ephesus if they do not repent? Since Revelation 1:20 told us that the lampstands represent the churches, Jesus is warning that if the church does not repent, he will remove the church. This does not mean they will lose their salvation. They will still be his church but they will no longer have the opportunity to shine for Him since they have abandoned their love for him. In verse 7, write the admonition that is repeated to all seven churches. Jesus is begging this church to listen to Him! Revelation 1:3 promises blessing to those who hear and put into practice the words in this book. 18

19 What promise is given to the overcomer? The overcomer or conqueror would be the one who had an ear to obey what Jesus said. Our actions always spring from our faith, so if we are obeying Christ it is because we are believing His Word. Those who don t overcome are those who don t believe and therefore their actions reflect that. According to Genesis 3:22, what will the result be for those who eat of the tree of life? Read 1 John 5:4-5. What makes someone an overcomer? What do you think is the main point that Jesus wants this church to know? What about you? Do your works look good on the outside but inwardly they are not motivated by God s love? Examine your heart before the Lord. Look back at your life a few years ago. Are you more in love with Jesus now than you were then? If so, praise God and keep following hard after Him. If not, the remedy is as simple as to remember and repent. Jesus is waiting for us with open arms! Fill in the information for this church on the chart on p When you finish your study of the seven churches, it will be a helpful reference for you to compare the churches side by side. 19

20 Day 7: SMYRNA: Revelation 2:8-11 Read Revelation 2 again. Smyrna is now the modern day city of Izmir, Turkey. Located thirty-five miles north of Ephesus, it was was an impressive harbor city that was known for its great beauty, sometimes referred to as the ornament of Asia. The city was laid out along wide, beautifully paved streets and was adorned with temples, baths, gymnasia, a theater, a stadium, and a library. It is estimated that over one hundred thousand people lived there. A temple was built there for the worship of Roman gods and was dedicated to the emperor Tiberius. The aged bishop Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John, was martyred in the stadium at Smyrna in AD 156. When he was arrested, the captain repeatedly tried to convince Polycarp to deny Christ, but he refused. Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my Saviour and King? Polycarp replied. As a result, he was burned at the stake, but his death bore fruit and gave credibility to remaining Christians. After seeing Polycarp s courage, some began to look into how this sect called Christianity could produce such courageous men of conviction and commitment. How is Jesus described in verse 8? A very similar description of Jesus is mentioned in Revelation 1: Jesus is first, not just in time, but also in position. He is the most important. Revelation 1:5 also mentions that he is the firstborn of the dead. Because He was the first one to defeat death, he has prominence over all others who are raised from the dead. Read 1 Corinthians 15: What do these verses say is the order of those resurrected? Because Jesus has defeated death, what will he do according to verses 24-26? 20

21 The fact that Jesus describes himself in this way to the church at Smyrna is significant. He is the victor over death and it is important for this church to remember that during the hardships they are facing. Since Jesus was in the middle of the churches, he was aware of what they were going through. What was the church at Smyrna facing? From what group in particular where they being mistreated? Slander is never a pleasant thing to endure, but it is especially hurtful when it comes from those who do it in the name of religion. This persecution is Jewish in origin, but Jesus actually calls them a synagogue of Satan because they were not following Him. Jesus says these people claim to be Jews, but are not. What makes someone a real Jew? Read Romans 2:28-29 and Romans 4:16. Jesus told this church not to fear what they were about to suffer. Read the following verses and note what the Bible tells us about suffering as a Christian. 2 Timothy 3:1,12 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-13 Why would Jesus say the church as Smyrna was rich even though they were suffering poverty? See Ephesians 1:17-18 and Colossians 1:27. 21

22 Is there any reproof or correction given to the church of Smyrna? We don t like trials or persecution, but this church had been refined by it and Jesus had nothing negative to say about them! Wow! What were Jesus instructions to them in verse 10? Things were not going to get better or easier. In verse 10, it says that the devil is going to throw some of them into prison. Given the fact that in verse 9 he mentions Jews who were of the synagogue of Satan, it seems likely that the persecution would be Jewish in origin. We don t know if their suffering is a literal 10 days or simply a period of time. But we do see that at some point, there will be an end to it. Why does Jesus encourage them not to be afraid of suffering and death? Refer back to verse 8. Some of them would die for their faith, but what two things does Jesus promise to give them? As followers of Jesus, we are promised to have tribulation in this life and Jesus himself told us that we will be hated by the world because it hated Him. But we have nothing to fear! Death has been defeated and even if at some point we are called to die for our faith, we have the promise of eternal life and won t be hurt by the second death. Ask God to give you courage so that whatever happens, you will always be faithful to stand for your Savior. What do you think is the main point that Jesus wants this church to know? Fill in the information for this church on the chart on p

23 Day 8: PERGAMUM: Revelation 2:12-17 Read Revelation 2 again. Pergamum was 55 miles north of Smyrna. The modern village of Bergama, Turkey, now sits there. Pergamum was a beautiful Greek city, but in 133 BC the last king to reign in Pergamum died, and in in his will he gave Pergamum to the Romans. During the Roman period, a shrine of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, was built in the city and it was well-known for its worship of Zeus and several other gods. Pergamum also became a prominent center for the imperial cult, where the Emperor was worshiped and recognized as a divine being. How is Jesus described in verse 12? Note the similarity with Revelation 1:16. We looked in chapter one at the description of the two-edged sword being the Word of God. Again, it is significant that Jesus describes himself in this way to this church. Where does it say this church is living? Because Pergamum had such a strong emphasis on idol worship, perhaps that is why it says this church lives where Satan s throne is and where he dwells. What an encouragement for this church to know that even though Satan had a stronghold here, the Word of God was more powerful! Look up 2 Thessalonians 2:8. What does this verse say about Jesus power over the enemy? Read Revelation 12:9-11. How is Satan defeated in these verses? 23

24 When we are covered in the the blood of the Lamb, his Word gives us power over the enemy. How important it is for us to read, understand and believe the Word of God. It is our only offensive weapon. What is this church commended for? What does it mean to hold fast to Jesus name? A name represents a person s character. Look up the following verses and note what we learn about Jesus name. Psalm 124:8 Proverbs 18:10 Isaiah 9:6 Matthew 1:23 How would remembering these things about Jesus help us to hold fast in difficult times? This church was also commended for not denying the faith. Faith is simply being fully convinced of what God has said even though we can t see it. Suffering can easily cloud our view of God and in times of hardship, we can begin to question what we once believed. In verse 13, who is given as an example of not denying the faith? What did he do? This church was living out what they believed even though some of them had been killed for it. That truly is commendable. 24

25 But what does he have against them? The fact that they held to the teaching of Balaam shows that it was a continual thing. They continued to give audience to this false teaching. In Numbers we read the story of Balaam. Balak was the king of Moab who became fearful when the people of Israel were camped near his area. Everyone had heard stories of what God had done for Israel at the Red Sea and he was afraid that any encounter he had with Israel would not end well for him and his people. So he hired Balaam to curse Israel. But God spoke to Balaam and told him not to curse Israel. So instead, much to Balak s alarm, the prophet he had hired, pronounced blessings on Israel. When Balak confronted Balaam about it, he said, Did I not tell you, All that the Lord says I must do? (Numbers 23:26). But Balaam was corrupted by his desire for gain. Read Numbers 25:1-9. Balaam is not mentioned in these verse, but in a moment, we will see how he had a hand in what happened here. Note what takes place in these verses. Now read Numbers 31:16. What does it say about Balaam and the incident at Peor? Read 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11. What else do we learn about Balaam from these verses? Apparently, Balaam advised Balak on how to invite Israel to the festivals of idol worship. He taught Balak how to put a stumbling block before Israel that led them into the deliberate sin of idol worship and immorality. It seems he was motivated to do this by the promise of financial gain. 25

26 Pergamum was also accepting teaching that would lead them into sin. Perhaps this person, like Balaam was motivated by financial gain and was leading them astray. We do not have any information on the Nicolatians. But unlike the church at Ephesus that rejected the teaching of the Nicolatians, the church at Pergamum accepted it. What is Jesus instruction to this church in verse 16? To repent simply means to change your mind. They were to change their mind about this false teaching and reject it instead. What is the warning in verse 16? What will happen if they do not repent? Here we see God coming against them with his Word to judge them for their sin. Have you noticed what the focus of Jesus message is to this church? Look at the description of Jesus, the commendation, the reproof and the warning? What do they all have in common? God s Word is vital to our survival as a Christian. Do you know how to recognize the accurate teaching of God s Word? The church at Pergamum was weak in this area. Read Hebrews 5: After reading this section, why were these people immature, still drinking milk instead of eating meat? What does it say about the one who is still drinking milk? What determines if someone is mature from these verses? 26

27 Someone who is mature is able to distinguish good from evil. The only way we can do this is by comparing things to God s Word. If we are unskilled in God s Word, we will be easily led astray into false teaching like those in Pergamum were. The most important thing you can do as a Christian is to become skilled in using your sword, the Word of God. Read it, memorize it, pray it, study it and put it into practice! The more familiar we become with the Word, the stronger our faith will be and we will not easily be led astray by error. Stay in the Word! What is the promise to the one who conquers? In Exodus 16, we read the account of the children of Israel receiving manna in the wilderness. The first time they saw it, they said, What is it? Read John 6:31-35; Based on what these verses tell us that manna represents, what is the church of Pergamum being promised from these verses? There are several ideas about what the white stone represents. Sometimes stones were used like an entrance ticket to special social events. Also, jurors used black stones to vote for a person s guilt while white ones were used to vote for innocence. Whatever the meaning, it seems the point is that those who have white stones will be accepted and welcomed by Jesus. The fact that those who have white stones have a new name speaks of a change of identity. Our new name will identify us with Jesus. What do you think is the main point that Jesus wants this church to know? Again, John closes with the repeated admonition to hear what the Spirit says to the seven churches. God is speaking. We would do well to listen closely. Fill in the information for this church on the chart on p

28 Day 9: THYATIRA: Revelation 2:18-29 Read chapter 2 again. The letter to Thyatira is the longest of all the letters to the churches. Thyatira was a city about 40 miles southeast of Pergamum. It was known for its trade guilds, one of which was manufacturing purple dye. In Acts 16:14, we meet Lydia who was a seller of purple from the town of Thyatira. She believed the gospel message when Paul preached the good news in Philippi. Tyrimnos, an ancient sun god, and Apollos were worshipped in Thyatira. How is Jesus described in verse 18? The fact that Jesus is described in this way might be related to the fact that a sun god was worshipped in this city. Brilliance is highlighted in this description of Jesus, showing he is greater than any false deity. List all the things that this church is commended for. What reproof does Jesus give this church? Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab. She was not an Israelite, but was the daughter of the King of Sidon (1 Kings 16:30-31). Read 1 Kings 18:13. What wicked thing did Jezebel do? See 1 Kings 21: What does this verse say about Jezebel? What did she incite her husband to do? 28

29 Because of the severity of her sin, what did God say would happen to her? Read 1 Kings 21:23. Read the fulfillment of this in 2 Kings 9: Compare the Jezebel in the Old Testament with the Jezebel mentioned in Thyatira. What things was the Jezebel mentioned here in Revelation doing? False teaching always leads to immorality and idolatry and that is exactly what was taking place in this church. It seems like her teaching was pervasive and many were following after her. Read the following verses and note the dangers and the consequences of immorality. Hebrews 13:4 1 Corinthians 6:18 Proverbs 6:27-35 Proverbs 7:21-24 What should this church have done with this woman? See 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 Sin in the church cannot be tolerated. It has to be cleansed. This church was tolerating Jezebel and her teaching and they were being led into sin. 29

30 What does Jesus say about this Jezebel in verse 21? What will the consequences be for her and those who follow after her if they do not repent? Sin always results in death. Just as it resulted in death for Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament, the same will be true for this woman. As a result of God s judgment in this church, what will the other churches learn about Jesus? Jesus searches the mind and hearts of everyone and nothing can escape his gaze. His eyes are like a flame of fire (v.18). He can see through our facades and we cannot fool him. He also will not turn a blind eye to sin. Our works will be judged and we will be given according to what we have done, whether good or bad. In verses 24-25, what is said to the righteous in the church at Thyatira? The false teaching and the sin in the church were enough burden for them to bear. They are simply encouraged to hold fast until Jesus comes. What promise is given to the one who conquers? Read Psalm 2:7-9, where this is referenced from. Because they were not overcome by evil, the conquerers would be able to rule effectively. Jesus received authority from his father, and in turn, he gives authority to the overcomers to rule. 30

31 They also would be given the morning star. Read Revelation 22:16 to see what this refers to. Not only are the overcomers given the authority to reign, they get to enjoy Jesus himself. The church in Pergamum was given manna which also represents Jesus. Of all the promises given to the overcomers, Jesus is our greatest reward! What do you think is the main point that Jesus wants this church to know? Fill in the information about this church on the chart on p

32 Revelation 3 Day 10: SARDIS: Revelation 3:1-6 Read chapter three today. As you read, mark the following words and phrases: to the angel of the church in write any references to Jesus Spirit/seven spirits conquers hold fast repent throne How is Jesus described in verse 1? Do you remember what the seven stars represents? If not, see Revelation 1:20. Let s look at everything we find about the seven spirits. Look up the following verses and note what they tell us. When we have compiled all of our information, we ll try to discern what it is saying. Revelation 1:4 Revelation 4:5 Revelation 5:6 Now Read Zechariah 4:1-14. Don t worry about understanding everything in this passage. We are just looking for clues and trying to compare Scripture with Scripture. What does verse 6 say is the meaning of Zechariah s vision in verses 1-3? 32

33 What does verse 10 say the seven lamps represent? Compare this explanation with Revelation 4:5 and 5:6. The passage in Zechariah tells us the vision of the seven lamps refers to the Lord s Spirit. Since seven is a number of completion and Revelation is a book of prophecy and symbolism, it seems likely that the Holy Spirit could be the seven spirits in Revelation, too. If this is so, the Trinity is seen before the throne in Revelation 1:4. The Holy Spirit is portrayed as seven lamps which signify illumination and understanding, and the Spirit is also represented as seven eyes that see all that is going on around the world. What is the first thing that Jesus says to this church in verse 1? Sardis was a dead church. There was almost no life at all in this church. According to verse 4, there were only a few who were righteous. Look up the following verses and answer the following questions about spiritual life. Read John 5:24. How do we receive life? See Romans 8:9-11. What is the one indication that we have life from these verses? I find it very interesting that Jesus introduces himself as one who has the seven spirits. If we have the Spirit, we have eternal life. Jesus is introducing himself as the one who can give life to this church. Since the church at Sardis is dead, so the indication is that many in the church are not even believers! What instruction does he give them in verses 2-3? 33

34 The instruction to wake up is a call for them to understand that they are dead and need to get saved. They are also told to strengthen what remains. From the immediate context in verse 2, what do you think they should strengthen? Complete works are works that are fulfilled or carried through to the end. Their works were not complete because the didn t have the Spirit and were not done in his power. What does Titus 3:8 say about those who have believed? Read James 2: (Especially note verse 22). What do we learn about faith and works in this section? James tells us that faith is completed by our works. This church did not have complete works because they did not have faith. They were to remember what they had heard. Read 2 Timothy 2:8. What should this church remember? They were to also to keep it. Read John 8:51. Based on what we have learned about how we receive life, what do you think it means to keep Jesus words from this verse? And they were to repent. The call to repent is repeated often in the messages to these churches. They were to change their mind about what they believed. Basically, this was a call for some in the church to get saved. They had a reputation for being alive, but God could see the heart and knew that they were spiritually dead. 34

35 What is the warning given to them if they do not wake up? Compare this with Matthew 24:36-51 and Mark 13: What will happen to the servant who is not ready for his master s return? What does Revelation 16:15 say? This is a very similar warning as the one given to the church at Sardis. What does Jesus commend this church for in verse 4? There were only a few in this church who were saved and were worthy to walk with Jesus. What does Jesus say will be given to the one who conquers? White garments refer to righteousness. Those in white garments have had their sins forgiven and they are clean. The book of life is only mentioned in Revelation and once in Philippians 4:3, but there are a few references in the Old Testament to people s names being blotted out of God s book. Look up the following verses and note who is blotted out of the book. Exodus 32:31-33 (This took place after the Israelites worshipped the golden calf). 35

36 Psalm 69:22-28 In both of these instances it appears God s book is a register of those who are living. Those who sin will be blotted out of this book, in other words, they die. In Exodus 32:26-28, 3,000 men were killed by the Levites for worshipping the golden calf. And in Psalm 69, David asks God that his enemies be blotted out of the book of the living. In Revelation we see another book called the book of life or the Lamb s book of life. Look up the references below and then answer the questions. Read Revelation 13:5-8 and 17:7-8. What do people do in these verses who do not have their names written in the book of life? For those who do have their names in this book, when are their names recorded in it? Read Revelation 13:8 and 17:8. Now read Revelation 20: What happens to those whose names are not in the book of life? Who will be allowed into the new Jerusalem? Read Revelation 21: So the book of life, is a book of the names of all those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. Your name is written there before the foundation of the world. If your name is not in the book, you go to the lake of fire, and if your name is found in the book, you can enter the new Jerusalem, the holy city. Unlike in the Old Testament, where people could die and have their names blotted out of God s book, in Revelation 3:5, God promises that their names will never be blotted out of the book of life. 36

37 Jesus also promises that he will confess their name before the Father and his angels. Read Matthew 10:32-33 and Luke 12:8-9. What do these verses say? Based on salvation being by faith alone, do you think those who deny Christ before men are believers or unbelievers? Those who are overcomers are also confessers! Because of all that Jesus has won for us, making us overcomers, the natural result should be that we become confessers and tell others about Him. What do you think is the main point Jesus wants to communicate to the church at Sardis? Fill in the information for the church of Sardis on the chart on p

38 Day 11: PHILADELPHIA: Revelation 3:7-13 Read chapter 3 again. Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love. In the Greek, the word phileo refers to the type of love one would have for a brother. Philadelphia was 74 miles east of Smyrna. It was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum ( BC). Philadelphia was often frequented by earthquakes and in 17 AD an earthquake almost leveled the city. Continuing tremors drove much of the population to safer locations. After the Emperor Tiberius rebuilt the city, it took on the name Neocaesarea. How is Jesus described in verse 7? Holy means separated or set apart. Jesus is unlike any other. Because he is perfect and sinless and because He is God, he is set apart from us. Jesus is the true one. Contrast that description with what is said in verse 9. Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18 tell us that God never lies and that it is impossible for him to lie. Jesus is the truth. Jesus has the key of David, meaning he is a direct descendent of David. Read Revelation 5:5 and 22:16. How do these two verses describe Jesus relationship with David? Because Jesus is God, He is the root of David, meaning that he came before David, but he is also a descendent of David s family, and came after him. A person who has a key has authority and control. Read the following verses and note what Jesus has authority to do because he holds the key of David. 38

39 Jeremiah 23:5-6 Luke 1:30-33 Read Isaiah 22:22. Revelation 3:7 is almost a direct quote from this verse. Based on what you have learned about Jesus key and his authority, what do you think the open door refers to in Philadelphia (v. 8)? Before David died, God promised him that he would have a descendent who would rule and reign forever. (1 Chronicles 17:11-14). Jesus is the only one who fits this description. He holds the keys to the kingdom and has authority over who is allowed to come in. The church in Philadelphia was a bit weak; they had but little power. But what does Jesus commend them for in verses 8 and 10? Two times it is mentioned that this church has kept Jesus word. They are commended for their faithfulness. In verse 9, what group are they facing some opposition from? The Jews felt like they were God s special people because of his covenant promises to Israel. They considered the Gentiles beneath them. They thought simply because they were Jews they had favor with God. Here in Revelation it says these people were lying when they called themselves Jews. Who does God consider to be a true Jew? See Romans 4:16 and Romans 9:8 39

40 What does Jesus say he will cause these people to do? We are not told when this will happen, but at some point those who are persecuting them will be humbled and Jesus will make them come and bow down before their feet. The Jews felt like they alone were blessed by God s special favor, but they would come to understand that Jesus loves this church too. Because of their faithfulness, what does Jesus promise them in verse 10? Who does it say will be affected by this hour of trial? This will be an hour of trial that will be unlike any other seen before because it is coming on the whole world. The purpose of this hour is to try (test) those who dwell on the earth. Look up the following verses from Revelation and note what you learn about those who dwell on the earth during this hour of trial. Revelation 11:6-10 Revelation 13:5-8, 14 Revelation 17:8 So these are unbelievers. They rejoice in the death of the two witnesses, they are deceived by the beast and the false prophet and their names are not written in the book of life. God promises this church that they will not go through any of these events. They will be spared from this hour of trial. What encouragement does Jesus give this church in verse 11? 40

41 Oh how important it is for us to remember these words today! The time is short and Jesus is coming soon! We must work hard and redeem the time because we do not know the hour that he will return. It is also encouraging to remember that he is coming again and will soon right every wrong. This life is not all there is! The hope of his return encourages us to press on and remain faithful. What instruction and gentle warning does he give the church at Philadelphia? What has this church been holding fast to? They were to hold fast to Jesus who has the key to the kingdom. He has given them an open door to his kingdom and they are to continue to hold fast to His Word and not deny His name. This is the third time Jesus has encouraged a church to hold fast. In 2:13, Pergamum was told to hold fast because they were living where Satan s throne was. In 2:25, Thyatira is told to hold fast in the midst of false teaching and immorality. Now Philadelphia is told to fast so they don t lose their crown. Crowns are given as rewards. There are 4 crowns noted in the New Testament: crown of boasting (1 Thess. 2:19) crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8) crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) This church is reminded to hold fast so that they don t let someone take or seize their crown from them. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 reminds us that we can suffer the loss of a reward. That is why must hold fast. What promise does Jesus give to the one who conquers? 41

42 Who is God s temple in the New Jerusalem? See Revelation 21:22. How I look forward to the day when I will dwell with God face to face, forever enjoying his presence. As a pillar in the temple, I will have a permanent and unshakeable place in the New Jerusalem, making my home with God forever. God will write on the overcomer his own new name. A name is a person s identity. In the new Jerusalem, the overcomers will come to fully know God s character and his name. It speaks of great intimacy and fellowship and seems appropriate since Jesus told this church that he has loved them. What do you think is the main point that Jesus wants to communicate to the church at Philadelphia? Fill in the information for Philadelphia on the chart on p

43 Day 12: LAODICEA: Revelation 3:14-22 Read chapter 3 again. Laodicea was about 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia. It was only about 10 miles away from Colossae and six miles from Hieropolis. Colossae was known for its cold springs and Hierapolis for its hot springs. Laodicea had no water source of its own, so it had to receive its lukewarm water through an underground aqueduct. It was one of the richest cities in the area and when the city was devastated by an earthquake in AD 60, they did not ask for any help from Rome in rebuilding. It was known for banking and a textile industry that produced black wool. There was also a medical school there that produced a salve for the eyes. Paul wrote a letter to the Colossian church about 30 years earlier. In it, he gave instructions for his letter to also be read in Laodicea. Paul had also written a letter to Laodicea, but we have no record of it today. (Colossians 4:15-16) How does Jesus introduce himself in verse 14? Amen simply means truly indeed. Whatever Jesus tells us is the truth and it will surely be so. His character is true and upright. This is is the third time that we are told in this book that Jesus is the true one, or the true witness (also 1:5 and 3:7). Revelation 19:11 tells us that Jesus name is Faithful and True. He is a reliable witness to us about the Father and everything he tells in this book is trustworthy and true. Jesus is also described as the beginning of God s creation. This is not the first time this church has been told this since Paul addressed this in his letter to the Colossians, but it seems they needed to be reminded. Read Colossians 1: What do these verses tell us about Jesus? 43

44 Jesus is the source of everything and he is the most important. This church had forgotten that as we will see in a minute. What is Laodicean rebuked for in verses 15-16? Jesus used an example they would be very familiar with given their water situation. Both hot and cold water can be enjoyed. A cold glass of water on a hot day is very refreshing and a nice cup of hot heat on a cold night is comforting and warming. But not many enjoy a lukewarm drink. This church was a church of compromise. They were not cold to the world - they dabbled and toyed with the things the world had to offer. But they were not on fire for the Lord either. They took a little bit of God, but they did not have a passion for him that consumed them. There is no commendation given for Laodicea. Jesus has nothing good to say about them! What does Jesus say he is going to do to them? How does this church view themselves in verse 17? Jesus again uses illustrations that they can relate with. Just like Laodicea was rich and indecently rebuilt the city without Rome s assistance, this church thought they didn t need God. Instead, what does Jesus say is actually true of them? He is being a faithful witness to them. wretched - miserable or pathetic pitiable - pertaining to being deserving of pity in view of one s miserable condition. 1 1 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (750). New York: United Bible Societies. 44

45 poor - to crouch like a beggar and be destitute blind - unable to see naked - having no clothing or being very scantily clad The sad thing was that this church was in a very bad situation and they didn t even know it! They may have been a prosperous church financially, but spiritually they were miserable and pathetic and were to be pitied! They were blind and unable to see the truth about their true condition. They were naked and were not clothed with good works. (Revelation 19:8). What three things does Jesus counsel this church to do in verse 18? What riches are these people missing out on? Read Colossians 2:1-3. This church had perhaps become comfortable in their wealth. Jesus invites them to buy his gold that is refined by fire. Read 1 Peter 1:6-7. What would refine this church according to these verses? They also needed to by white garments from Jesus to cover their nakedness. Read Revelation 19:6-8. What do white garments represent in these verses? Because this church had to buy white garments from Jesus shows that he is the source of anything good we do. But this church is not commended for any good works. They needed to find their source in Christ before they could produce anything good. Jesus uses another example they would be familiar with - eye salve - something that was produced in Laodicea. These people needed their vision restored so they could see Jesus for who he really is. 45

46 Read 2 Peter 1:5-9. What do these verses say a believer can be blind to? What causes this blindness? 1 John 2: According to these verses, what else can cause a believer to be blinded? What does Jesus say about how he feels about this church? What is the proof that he loves them? See also Hebrews 12:5-7. What is Jesus instruction in verse 19? Instead of being lukewarm, they were to be zealous. To be zealous means to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire to be earnest, to set one s heart on, to be completely intent upon. 2 But this could only happen if they repented (changed their mind) about their lukewarmness and saw their condition for how it really was. Verse 20 is often used as a salvation verse, but based on the context, this is an invitation to fellowship. Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. He is taking the initiative. He wants our company! Often we are too busy to hear him knocking and he will not force his way in without us opening the door. If we open the door, what does Jesus promise? 2 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (297). New York: United Bible Societies. 46

47 Eating together in the New Testament was a sign of fellowship. Jesus was condemned by the Pharisees for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jews would not eat with Gentiles. To eat together showed friendship and communion. Perhaps that is why we remember the Lord s death through communion by eating and drinking. No matter how far away from the Lord we are, it is only one step back. All we have to do is open the door! Jesus is reminding the church at Laodicea that he is just outside the door waiting. All they have to do is invite him in! I think it is very significant that the remedy for their apathy and lukewarmness is fellowship with Jesus. He doesn t tell them to get their act together and start doing good works. He invites them to simply fellowship with him and get to know him. All good works flow out of our time spent with Jesus. What promise is given to the overcomer in verse 21? Only conquerers are allowed to sit on a throne. The comparison is that just as Jesus conquered and is now seated with his Father on the throne, so those who overcome will also be given authority to sit on a throne. Look up the following verses to learn more about this wonderful privilege. Read Matthew 19: Who will sit and rule in these verses? Who will they judge? Read Matthew 25: This will take place after the Second Coming. Who will sit on the throne here? Who will he rule over? Read Revelation 5:10 and 20:6. Where will we reign and for how long? See 1 Corinthians 6:2-3. Who will we judge according to these verses? 47

48 Read Revelation 2: Who will we rule over in these verses? How is it described? We have no authority of our own, but Jesus will give the overcomer authority to rule and reign with him! What a wonderful privilege! What is the main point Jesus wants this church to understand? Fill in the information for Laodicean on the chart on p

49 Ephesus Description of Jesus Commendation Reproof Warnings and Instructions Promise to Overcomers Smyrna Pergamum 49

50 Thyatira Description of Jesus Commendation Reproof Warning and Instructions Promise to Overcomers Sardis 50

51 Philadelphia Description of Jesus Commendation Reproof Warning and Instructions Promise to Overcomers Laodicea 51

52 Day 13: Recap of chapters 1-3 According to Revelation 1:1 and 22:6, what is the purpose of the book of Revelation? God gave the Revelation to Jesus and Jesus gave it to an angel who gave it to John. John wrote to the seven churches. The purpose is to tell about the things which will soon take place. Revelation 1:19 gives us a basic outline for the book of Revelation. Which chapter talks about the things which you have seen? Which chapters refers to those that are? According to Revelation 4:1, what does the rest of the book talk about? Do you have a better understanding of the book of Revelation so far? It s really not that confusing when you use Scripture to interpret Scripture! The Churches: Let s do a recap of what we have learned so far about the seven churches. Ephesus was told not to leave or abandon their first love. Smyrna was told not to fear tribulation, but to be faithful even unto death. Pergamum was told not to deny the faith, but instead to hold fast to the Word. Thyatira was told not to tolerate false teaching and sin in the church. Sardis was a dead church and told to wake up and repent. Philadelphia was told to hold fast in the midst of persecution from the Jews. Laodicea was rebuked for being lukewarm. 52

53 Which two churches had no reproof? Which church had no commendation? Did you notice that when Jesus was described to each of the churches, they all related back to the vision that John had seen of Jesus in chapter 1? Which description of Jesus was most encouraging to you personally? Explain. The Overcomers: Read 1 John 5:4-5. Who is described here as being an overcomer? Read Revelation 12:11. What makes it possible for us to be an overcomer? Because of our faith in Jesus work on the cross, look at all that will be given to us: We will be allowed to eat from the tree of life in paradise. We will be given the crown of life. We won t be hurt by the second death. These first three blessing all relate to us having and enjoying eternal life. We will be given manna (Jesus), a white stone and a secret name. We will be given authority over the nations to rule with a rod of iron. we will be given the morning star (another name for Jesus). We will be clothed in white garments (righteous acts). Our name will never be blotted out of the book of life. Jesus will confess our name before the Father. We will be a pillar in the temple of God and will never go out of it. We will sit with Jesus on his throne. From this list, I think it is obvious why Paul tells us in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerers. 53

54 Read Revelation 21:1-7. List everything the one who conquers will be given in these verses. In verse 7, it says the one who conquers will have the heritage of being God s son. The overcomers are welcomed into the King s family and have all the rights and privileges that come with being a child of the King. The word conquer is used 17 times in the book of Revelation. It is a book of victory and hope. The end has been written and we win because Jesus has already won the victory for us! Revelation 17:14 says They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. Rejoice, dear one, in all that Jesus has won for you! 54

55 Day 14 Over the next two days, we are just going to read the rest of the book of Revelation, the section that talks about things to come. Today read Revelation Below record your initial thoughts about what happens in each chapter. You don't have to explain what they mean. For example, you don t have to explain who the dragon or beast are, just note what they do Note any questions that come to mind as you read so we can be sure and answer them during our study. 55

56 Day 15 Today read Revelation Again record briefly what each chapter is about Note any questions that come to mind as you read so we can be sure and answer them during our study. 56

57 Day 16: Revelation 4:1-6a Revelation 4 Read chapter 4 again today. Mark the following words as you read today: after this throne heaven in the Spirit/seven spirits God In chapters 1-3, John saw a vision of Jesus standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands, the seven churches. He was told what to write to each church. According to verse 1, what is the next thing that John sees? What does he hear? This is the same voice he heard in chapter 1, verse 10. What does the voice say? And so we begin the third section of Revelation, the things to come. What does it say about John in verse 2? What does this tell you about the reliability of his testimony? What does John see in heaven? 57

58 Based on the description of the throne in this chapter, do you think this throne belongs to God the Father or Jesus? If you are not sure, read Revelation 5:6-7 for clarification. In verse 3, what is the appearance like of the one seated on the throne? Read Revelation 21: How is jasper described here? Read Ezekiel 1:28. How is the rainbow described here in Ezekiel s vision? John is privileged to see the throne of God himself. He sees the brilliance of the glory of God. John tries to convey it to us by describing the brilliance of precious stones like jasper and carnelian. He speaks of a bright rainbow and sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. Surely, God is light and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5). What does John see around God s throne in verse 4? How are the elders described? We are not given insight as to who these elders are, but we do see them again in Revelation 11 and they are doing the same thing there: they are bowing down and worshipping God. According to Revelation 19:5, what do the white robes represent that the elders are wearing? What is coming from the throne according to verse 5? What does John hear and see? 58

59 He hears thunder and sees flashes of lightning. It speaks of God s power. It reminded me of the description in Exodus when God came to the people on Mount Sinai during the giving of the law. Read Exodus 19:16 and compare it with what John saw here. What was the people s response in Exodus? Who is also before the throne in verse 5? As we have seen earlier in chapters 1-2, the seven spirits probably refer to the Holy Spirit. His presence is noted here at the throne. Put yourself in John s place. How would you feel upon seeing a vision of God like this? John sees an awesome vision of God himself. Since it is impossible to truly describe God in words, John uses terms that we an understand to help us envision His majesty. We get the picture of brightness when John describes a sea of glass, like crystal. He describes God s appearance like the beauty and brilliance of precious gems like jasper, carnelian and emeralds. It must have been a sight to behold. There was also thunder and lightning coming from the throne. The One on the throne commanded attention and worship. Tomorrow we will look at what takes place before this throne. 59

60 Day 17: Revelation 4:6b-11 Read chapter 4 again. In verse 6, what does John see on each side of the throne? What is unique about these living creatures? Ezekiel also saw a vision very similar to what John saw. Read Ezekiel 1:4-28. What similarities do you see in these two visions? Compare the four living creatures. What similarities do you with how God s glory is described? We can t be dogmatic, but it seems that these four living creatures are some sort of spirit being. Both are described in the visions that Ezekiel and John saw and both appear before the throne of God. What are they doing in verse 8? What does verse 8 tell us about when they worship? The living creatures refer to the Lord God Almighty. It is a name of God that highlights his power and authority over everything. He is above all. God is described in a very similar way in Revelation 1:4. He was and is and is to come. It shows us that he is eternal, with no beginning and no end. 60

61 What do the twenty-four elders do when they see the four living creatures worship God? Since the four living creatures worship God night and day without stopping, we know that the twenty-four elders do the same. God is so great and awesome that it is only fitting that there should never be an end to his receiving worship. What do we learn about worship of God in Luke 19:37-40? What do we learn about God in verse 10? What do the twenty-four elders do with the crowns on their head? Taking off a crown and laying it before another shows your submission before one who is greater. What do the twenty-four elders say in their worship to God? Worthy means pertaining to having a relatively high degree of comparable merit or worth. 3 It comes from a word meaning of equal weight. Because God is worthy, the worship we give him should compare or equal to how great and awesome he is. God is worthy to receive glory, honor and power. Glory - It comes from a root word meaning to make very apparent. So when God receives glory we should make it very apparent how awesome and wonderful he is. 3 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (621). New York: United Bible Societies. 61

62 Honor - to deem something as valuable or precious and so to treat them with high respect. Power - It is the Greek word dynamis where we get the English words for dynamic or dynamite. It speaks of exerting force and great might in a miraculous way. Why is God worthy to receive worship like this? What does Psalm 33:8-9 tells us about God? In Genesis, we are told that God created everything simply by speaking. Over and over again in Genesis 1 it says, and God said and it was so. His Word alone has great power to create things from nothing! That is why he is worthy! There is none like him! John sees spirit beings and people falling down before God s throne and worshipping. I think this gives us a good idea of what we will be doing in heaven. The Lord God Almighty alone is worthy of our endless worship and praise! Write below your own thoughts of worship to God. What is the theme of chapter 4? 62

63 Revelation 5 Day 18: Revelation 5:1-7 Read chapter 5 again today. Mark the following words and phrases as you read today: then I saw throne heaven angel worthy seven spirits God every reference to Jesus (pronouns and different names used) What does John see in verse 1? What question is asked? Who asks the question? What is the answer to the question in verse 3? What is John s response? What does one of the elders say to John? 63

64 Jesus is described as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, meaning he comes from Israel, from the tribe of Judah. Read Genesis 49:8-12. In these verses, Jacob blesses his sons before he dies. What does he say about Judah? Are these descriptions true of Jesus too? Jesus is described here and in Revelation 22:16 as the root of David. In the Old Testament he is also referred to as the root of Jesse. Jesse was David s father. What do these verses say about Jesus, the root of Jesse? Isaiah 11:10 Romans 15:12 According to verse 5, why is Jesus worthy to open the scroll? Who has Jesus defeated? See Hebrews 2:14-15 and 1 Corinthians 15:24. Read the following verses and note what Jesus has done for us because he has conquered. Colossians 1:13 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Where is Jesus, the Lamb standing? 64

65 How is he described in verse 6? In John 1:29, John the Baptist declares, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And in 1 Corinthians 5:7, Jesus is called our Passover Lamb, who has been sacrificed. The first time Jesus came, he is described as a Lamb; the second time he comes, his reign will be more descriptive of a Lion. The Lamb is described as having seven horns. Horns in the Bible represent strength, power and authority to rule. Look up Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 13:1. The fact that he has seven horns refers to his absolute power and complete rule. What does this verse tell us the seven eyes represent? From your study of Revelation so far, what do the seven spirits of God represent? Because the Lamb is worthy, he went and took the scroll from God who is seated on his throne. Based on this description of Jesus, what character traits are revealed about him? 65

66 Day 19: Revelation 5:8-14 Read chapter 5 again today. What happens when the Lamb takes the scroll from God the Father? What are the four living creatures and the elders holding? What does this verse tell us the golden bowls of incense represent? Because the Lamb was slain, what has he done according to verse 9? To ransom means to cause the release or freedom of someone by a means which proves costly to the individual causing the release to redeem, to set free. 4 The Lamb s own blood was the price paid to secure our ransom and freedom. Like we saw yesterday in Hebrews 2, he rescued us from life long slavery! Because we have been ransomed, what is the result for us according to verse 10? According to Hebrews 12:28 and 2 Peter 1:11, what kind of kingdom have we inherited? Kings come and go, they are overthrown or they die, but the kingdom of God will never end. Revelation 11:15 says that the kingdom of this world will become of the kingdom of the Lord and he will reign forever! Jesus will defeat every other kingdom and then He will be recognized as King of Kings and Lord of lords! Jesus has also made us priests. In the Old Testament, the high priest was the only 4 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (487). New York: United Bible Societies. 66

67 one who could go into the Holy of holies and offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. Now we all have equal access to the Father through Jesus. He has torn the veil and now we can come before his throne boldly and with confidence. We always have his ear and he will never turn us away! In verse 11, who joins the living creatures and the elders in worshipping the Lamb? This must have been an awesome sight to see countless angels joining in worship. Jesus is worthy of receiving everything we have to give and more. People want power and they want the wealth this world has to offer. They want to be recognized as wise and they want to be honored and praised. But Jesus is the only one who alone is worthy of all these things. We see a progression in worship in this chapter. In verse 13, who is worshipping now? Who are they worshipping? Not only is God worthy of this type of praise and worship, but he is worthy of it forever! He will never do anything that will disqualify himself from being worshipped in this way. Who was being worshipped in chapter 4? Who is the focus of chapter 5? Who is being worshipped? What is the theme of chapter 5? 67

68 Day 20: A Study on Worship Read Revelation 5 once more today. Has your view on worship changed at all? Worship is simply declaring and making God s character and worth very apparent. When we worship him, it changes us and gives us a proper perspective of who we are. Worship is not simply singing songs to God on a Sunday morning. Worship should be a part of our everyday life. When done in his name and for His glory, everything we do should be an act of worship to Him. He is worthy of everything we have to give and more. We can never repay Jesus for what he has done for us, but we can proclaim his excellencies through our words, attitudes and actions. Everything we do should be about proclaiming his matchless worth. Read Hebrews 12:28. What kind of worship is acceptable to God? Revelation 4-5 gives us a good picture of what reverent worship looks like. They were in awe of God and the Lamb and humbly bowing before him and proclaiming his greatness. What does Romans 12:1 say is our spiritual worship? When I think of presenting myself before God, I think of laying down my wants and desires, laying aside my desire to recognized or praised and being completely submitted to whatever He wants me to do. When my will is aligned with His, this is true worship. How does God view our worship according to this verse? Before we were believers, any good thing we did was viewed as a filthy rag. It was not acceptable to God. But because of my faith in Jesus, when I present myself to him to do His will, he accepts my meager offering and it is accepted and pleasing to Him. Wow! 68

69 Read Psalm 34:1. What does this verse say about worshipping God with our words? This should change how we speak! When you visit with friends, God should be the focus of your conversation. If he is our very life and the focus of our day, it should be natural that he should be the focus of our conversation as well. Even in difficult times, his character and faithfulness should always be on our lips. The reason we should talk like this is because He is worthy! Read Psalm 145. This psalm pairs well with the worship we see taking place in Revelation 4 and In verses 1-12, mark what our responsibility is and what we should do. Note the verbs. 2. In the whole chapter, with another color, circle what we should praise God for. Note what he has done and who he is. 3. Draw a box around the descriptions of who is praising the Lord in this psalm. 4. In another color, mark every occurrence of how long God should be praised. 1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, 12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 69

70 [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] 14 The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. 16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. 20 The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. If you are ever at a loss of how to praise God, come back and read this psalm! It is full of descriptions of who God is and what he has done for us. These are things we should be praising God for regardless of our circumstances. Because he is worthy, he will be praised forever and ever! Spend some time reflecting on all that God has done and who He is. Write your thoughts to the Lord below. 70

71 Revelation 6 Day 21: Revelation 6 Read Revelation 6 today. As you read, mark the following words: conquering, conquer second seal, third seal, etc. God every reference to Jesus earthquake This section begins to unfold for us the events that occur during the period known as the Tribulation. When the Lamb opens the first seal, who speaks to John and what does he say? What happens when the first seal is opened? Note everything it says. We don t have any insight into who this is, other than it is one who comes to conquer. What happens when the second seal is opened? What happens when the third seal is opened? Wheat and barley are measured here. A denarius was a day s wage so it appears the price of wheat and barley is very expensive. The fact that the oil and wine are not to be harmed suggests that the wheat and barley are somehow in short supply. 71

72 What happens when the fourth seal is opened? One fourth of the earth s population is killed in four different ways! What role do the four living creatures have in the opening of the first four seals? What does John see when the fifth seal is opened? What do these souls cry out for? What is God s answer? These souls are clothed in white robes, which we have seen earlier, represents the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:8). What happens when the sixth seal is opened? What do verses tells us about this day? People recognize these terrifying events as acts of God. Great and small alike run for their lives, trying to hide from God s wrath. These people say that the day of God s wrath has come. As terrifying as these events are, as we study Revelation, we will see that the full cup of God s wrath isn't poured out until much later at the blowing of the seventh trumpet. This is just the beginning! 72

73 What is the theme of chapter 6? Fill in the information for the seven seals on the chart on page

74 Revelation 7 Day 22: Revelation 7:1-8 Read Revelation 7 today. As you read, mark the following words: after this angels throne God (and pronouns) Lamb (and pronouns) Revelation 7 is an interlude between the opening of sixth and seventh seals. What does John see in verse 1? What else does he see in verse 2? What does this angel say to the four angels? The 144,00 who are sealed will be protected when the earth, sea and trees are harmed. The first four trumpets in chapter 8 are all plagues that affect the earth, sea and the trees, but because they are sealed, these people are safe. Who are these servants of God who are sealed? 74

75 Where is the seal placed? In Revelation 7, the 144,000 are on the earth. We see them again in Revelation 14 when they are in heaven. Read Revelation 14:1. What is the seal on their foreheads? What does Revelation 14:1-5 tell us about the 144,000? Read Revelation 9:1-6. What else will they be protected from since they have the seal of God on their foreheads? We don t know too much about the 144,000 except they are Jews who worship and serve the true God and they are protected by the seal of God s name during the Tribulation. 75

76 Day 23: Revelation 7:9-17 Read chapter 7 again. The sealing of the 144,000 takes place on earth. This next scene takes place in heaven. Who does John see next in the great multitude? What are they doing? What are they saying? What are all the angels doing? What are they saying? Here we see a third description of corporate worship in the book of Revelation. Both angels and people from every nation are falling down before the throne. The great multitude is praising God because he has saved them and the angels are worshipping God and giving him honor and glory, very similar to what we saw in Revelation 5: What does one of the elders ask John about the multitude of people? What is the answer according to verse 14? 76

77 In chapter 6, we saw that 1/4 of the earth s population was killed. Some of those killed were saints and now we see them standing as a great multitude before the throne of God in heaven. What are these people doing now according to verse 15? So far we see two things that we will be doing in heaven - worshipping God and serving him. What does it say God will do for them in verses 15? What will they be sheltered from in verse 16? These were things they probably suffered during the Tribulation. Now that they are in heaven, they will be sheltered by God himself and will never be harmed again. In verse 17, ironically, it says the Lamb will be their shepherd. What will this shepherd do for them? In Revelation 22:1-2, where is this living water located? Living water symbolizes eternal life. In Jesus conversation with the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus told the woman that he had water he could give her that would quench her thirst forever. He described it as a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14). The woman was eager to have this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. No doubt it was a chore to draw water from a well and Jesus was describing a spring of water welling up that she wouldn t even have to work for! That sounded enticing. Jesus quenches our thirst and satisfies us with Himself, and he is eternal life. In heaven we will have the joy of tasting and enjoying this Living Water forever! 77

78 The Lamb, their shepherd will also wipe away every tear from their eyes. Read Revelation 21:4 that describes why there will be no more tears. What is the theme of chapter 7? 78

79 Revelation 8 Day 24 Read chapter 8 today. Mark the following words as you read today: heaven angel seventh seal then I saw/looked the first (second, etc.) angel blew his trumpet Lamb God What happens when the Lamb opens the seventh seal? The seventh seal leads into the seven trumpets. What does John see next in verse 2? What does another angel do at the altar before the trumpets are blown? What does the incense stand for in verses 3-4? What does the angel do with censer? What happens as a result? 79

80 This was all preparation for the seven trumpets to be blown. What happens when the first angel blows his trumpet? What happens when the second angel blows his trumpet? What happens when the third angel blows his trumpet? What happens when the fourth angel blows his trumpet? What does John see after this in verse 13? The last three trumpets are also three woes that come to those who dwell on the earth. It gives the reader a sense of foreboding that worse things are yet to come. What is the theme of chapter 8? 80

81 Revelation 9 Day 25: Revelation 9:1-12 Read chapter 9 today. Mark the following words: heaven angel(s) God repent the fifth/sixth angel blew his trumpet In the book of Revelation sometimes stars are used as imagery and other times they are literal stars. The context will help us determine the proper meaning. Who do you think the star falling to earth refers to? Read Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:9. What key does he have? The bottomless pit is translated elsewhere in Scripture as the abyss. What comes out of the bottomless pit when it is opened? We are given some clues as to what these locusts are. The biggest clue we have is found in verse 11? Who is the king over these locusts? We are told he is an angel called Abaddon, meaning destruction in Hebrew, or Apollyon, meaning destroyer in Greek. Since their king is an angel, it gives us a clue that these locusts are also angels or demons. 81

82 Also read Luke 8: What do we learn about demons and the abyss that might help us understand this section in Revelation? How long are these locusts or demons allowed to torment mankind? Who are they not allowed to torment according to verse 4? How is their torment described? What does verse 6 tell us about these five months of torment? We are given a stark picture of five months of destruction and torment inflicted upon people of the earth. It seems that it is demonic in nature and so painful that people will want to die, but death will escape them. But this is only the first woe, and two more are yet to come. When the sixth angel blows his trumpet in verses 13-14, where is the voice coming from and who is it speaking to? The four horns on the altar refer to the altar of incense in the temple described in Exodus 30:1-6. What does the voice say? What was the job of these four angels? When the four angels are released it seems they release mounted troops. 82

83 10,000 times 10,000 is 100,000,000. Twice that number would be 200,000,000. That s two hundred million! I m not sure if this is a literal number or if it is just making the point that there are many, many of them. Read the description of these mounted troops. Do you think they are literal horses or demonic beings like we saw earlier? Explain you answer. According to verse 18, how is a third of mankind killed by them? What does it say about those who were not killed by these plagues? Describe the people s actions and lifestyle according to verses We definitely see things intensifying with the last two trumpets. It appears they are both demonic in nature. Despite the terrible torment and 1/3 of the earth s remaining population being killed, people still refuse to acknowledge God and repent of their sin. What is the theme of chapter 9? 83

84 Revelation 10 Day 26 Read chapter 10 today. Mark every occurrence of the words: then I saw angel heaven God Chapter 10 is another interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets. What does John see next? Describe the angel from verse 1. Where does the angel come from? What happens in verses 2-3? What instruction is John given in verse 4? In verse 5, the mighty angel raises his right hand towards heaven and swears by the Lord. How is God described in verse 6? 84

85 God is the Almighty Creator. He created heaven and all the angels in heaven and everything here on earth. According to Revelation 4:11, that is why God is worthy to be praised. Because he created it all, he alone has the right to control the events we see taking place here in Revelation. He has all authority and power because He created everything from nothing! The might angel swears that that there would be no more delay. What does he say will happen after the seventh trumpet? In the Bible, a mystery is something that has previously been spoken about, but not fully understood. What could this mystery be? What have the prophets foretold but not fully understood? Hold on to that question and we will come back to it after we look at all the events surrounding the seventh trumpet. What is John told to do in verse 8? Read Ezekiel 3:1-3. What does eating the scroll symbolize? God s Word is often described as sweet. Psalm 19:10 describes God s Word as sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. What happens to John after he eats the scroll and takes in God s Word? Perhaps it made his stomach bitter because he saw what was to come as God poured his wrath out on sinful man. What was John commanded to do after he had eaten the scroll? What is the theme of chapter 10? 85

86 Revelation 11 Day 27: Revelation 11:1-14 Read chapter 11 today. Mark the following words: every reference to God or the Lord nations conquer heaven woe the seventh angel blew his trumpet every reference to Jesus What is John given and told to do in verses 1-2? After reading this chapter, where is this temple located? It is important to ask yourself where things occur in the book of Revelation because the scenes jump between heaven and earth. The events described in verses 1-14 take place in the city of Jerusalem (v. 2,8). What does it say in verse 2 that the nations will do to Jerusalem? In verses 2 and 3 we see the designations of forty-two months and 1,260 days. Both of these equal 3 1/2 years. Since the Tribulation is 7 years long, this marks the midpoint of the Tribulation. We will see this will be a very significant point in the book of Revelation. What important people do we meet in verse 3? 86

87 There has been much speculation about who these two witnesses might be. Some think they are Moses and Elijah, but their identities are never revealed for us. More importantly, we will focus on what they do. They are given authority by God to prophesy during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. They are clothed in sackcloth which symbolizes mourning. They mourn because the people on earth do not accept their message and are rejecting God. In verse 4, how are these two witnesses described? Read Zechariah 4. Zechariah was given a vision of these two witnesses, but didn t have the complete picture. The way the two witnesses are described in Revelation ties back to Zechariah s vision in chapter 4. In Zechariah they are referred to as the two anointed ones which literally means the two sons of fresh oil. Olives produce oil which is used to light lamps. Perhaps their testimony is to give light to Jerusalem. God is sending his witnesses up to the very end, always giving people a chance to repent. What are the two witnesses given power to do? Verses 7 says when they have finished their testimony, (after 1,260 days or 3 and 1/2 years) what happens? We will look more at the beast in chapter 13. How long will their dead bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem? Who will see their bodies? 87

88 It says some people from different languages and nations will see their bodies. Probably those who have access to television will be aware of what is going on in Jerusalem during this time. What will be people s response to their death? What happens after three and half days? (v.11) What happens in Jerusalem after the two witnesses are taken up to heaven? What is people s response when this happens? This is the first time in the book of Revelation we see people repent and give glory to God. The two witnesses testimony did have an impact and some did choose to acknowledge the God of heaven. If you remember, the last three trumpets and the three woes are related to each other (Revelation 8:13). The fifth trumpet is the first woe, the sixth trumpet is the second woe and the seventh trumpet is the third woe. Verse 14 alerts us that the events surrounding the two witnesses are part of the second woe and the third woe is soon to come. 88

89 Day 28: Revelation 11:15-19 Read Revelation chapter 11 again today. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, we see first what takes place in heaven. Chapters 12 and 13 will show us what takes place on earth. What takes place on earth is part of the third woe. The seventh trumpet marks a very significant point in the Tribulation, so the events following it will be described in chapters What does John hear in heaven? What are they saying? Despite all the chaos taking place on earth, God is still on the throne and He is the King! This wonderful king will reign forever, with no one able to overthrow Him. What do the twenty-four elders do when they hear theses loud voices in heaven? What are they praising God for in verse 17? Read Psalm 2:1-5 and Psalm 110:5-6. What do these verses tell us about Jesus and the nations? What does verse 18 tell us the time has come for? 89

90 The blowing of the seventh trumpet marks the beginning of a period when we will see God reigning on earth. During his reign he will judge the dead, reward his servants and destroy his enemies. We will see in the coming chapters how all of these things are played out. What happens after the twenty-four elders bow down and worship God? One who reigns over the whole earth has to have great power and the events described in verse 19 certainly showcase God s awesome power! What is the theme of chapter 11? 90

91 Revelation 12 Day 29: Revelation 12:1-9 Read chapter 12 today. Mark the following words as you read: dragon, serpent, devil, Satan heaven God angels throne conquered Lamb, Jesus The events described here could be what John saw at the blowing of the 7th trumpet. They lead up to what happens before the third woe. First John sees a great sign in heaven. Read verses 1-6 and write down everything you learn about the woman. Based on this description, who do you think the woman represents? The woman probably refers to Israel. The crown of twelve stars on her head could be the twelve tribes of Israel. The baby she gives birth to is Jesus as Jesus came from the nation of Israel. He will one day rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). What is the second sign in heaven that John sees? 91

92 The dragon is seen with seven heads and ten horns. This is the same description given for the beast in chapter 13 indicating that the beast is going to get his power from the dragon. We are given some clues as to what the ten horns represent. Read Daniel 7:7-8 and verse 24. We will look at this section more in depth later, but for now, just note what the ten horns are. So during the Tribulation, the dragon will have authority and control over the empires of the world, ten kingdoms. The beast will be the one physically in power during this time, but the source of his power and control will come from Satan. What does the dragon want to do with the child that the woman gives birth to? This could be referring to how Herod wanted to kill the infant King in Matthew 2:16. Certainly Satan has always tried to defeat and kill Jesus and probably thought that he had won when Jesus was crucified. Verse 5 jumps ahead to Christ s ascension, where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Many years pass between verses 5 and 6. In verse 6, we see the woman, Israel, fleeing into the wilderness for 1260 days or 3 1/2 years. It appears during the second half of the Tribulation, Israel will be persecuted yet still protected. Verses 7-9 explain verse 4. What happens? It seems strange to think of Satan being in heaven, but we see in Job that Satan presented himself before the Lord. (Job 1:6-7; 2;1-2) Here we see God s angel, Michael fighting against the dragon. Read Daniel 12:1. What does this verse tell us about Michael? Who is it that he is responsible for? 92

93 What happens to the dragon and his angels? What other names does the dragon have in verse 9? Satan is thrown down to earth and no longer allowed access to heaven after this point. He is called the deceiver of the whole world and we will see during the second half of the Tribulation how he does just that. People are deceived and worship the beast, who gets his power and authority from Satan. 93

94 Day 30: Revelation 12:10-17 Read Revelation 12 again today. What happens in verse 10 after Satan has been thrown down to the earth? What does verse 10 tells us that Satan has been doing in heaven? So there is great rejoicing and praise and worship directed to God for throwing down Satan. He is the victor and has all power and authority! It appears that maybe the loud voice heard in verse 10 is the same loud voice referred to in Revelation 11:15 after the seventh trumpet has been blown. Note the similar message from both voices. What are they both proclaiming about God? So when you combine Revelation 11-12, after the seventh trumpet is blown, Satan is thrown down to the earth with a third of his angels and then there is rejoicing in heaven. With the last three trumpets and the three woes we see demonic and Satanic activity. Chapter 9 refers to the demonic activity associated with the 5th and 6th trumpets. After the 7th trumpet is blown, we see Satan cast down to the earth and he begins his persecution of Israel and the saints. Even though Satan has been accusing the Christians during the Tribulation it says they have conquered him. How have they done this according to verse 11? In verse 12, we see rejoicing in heaven because Satan has been thrown down to the earth. But we also come to the third woe associated with the seventh trumpet. 94

95 Who is the third woe directed at? Why will this be a time of woe according to verse 12? What does Satan do when he is thrown down to earth? What happens to the woman in verse 14? How long is the woman to be nourished? There are many different references to time in the book of Revelation. We have seen forty-two months, 1260 days and now we see time (1), times (2), and half a time (1/2). They are all different ways to referring to 3 1/2 years. So after the 7th trumpet is blown, the second half of the Tribulation begins. It appears that the war in heaven takes place during the midpoint of the Tribulation (Revelation 12:6,14). After Satan is thrown down to the earth, persecution will begin on Israel during the last half of the Tribulation. What does Satan do to try to destroy Israel? Satan tries to fight against Israel but he is not successful. Symbolically, we are given a picture of the earth opening its mouth and swallowing the river that was intended to sweep Israel away. Because Satan is not successful in destroying Israel, who does he turn his attention to? 95

96 So we see from this chapter that Satan is thrown down to earth during the middle of the Tribulation, after the seventh trumpet is blown. He persecutes Israel and those who are believers in Jesus. We will see that from this point on, things get worse for people living on the earth. What is the theme of chapter 12? Fill in the information for the seven trumpets on the chart on page

97 Revelation 13 Day 31: Revelation 13:1-10 Read chapter 13 today. Mark the following words as you read: and I saw, then I saw beast dragon God heaven conquer Lamb The events described in this chapter take place after the 7th trumpet is blown and Satan is thrown down to earth. They occur in the last half of the Tribulation. What does John see described in verses 1-2? This beast will have seven heads and ten horns. Read Revelation 17:8-13 then answer the following questions. According to verses 9-10, what does it say the seven heads of the beast refers to? The seven heads refer to seven mountains and seven kings. Mountains represent power so we see a reference here to seven kingdoms. Five of whom have already passed, one is in existence at the time John was writing and one is yet to come. If we look back at the countries that came to power in the Old Testament, we see Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. The first five would have been before John s time and the Roman Empire would have existed while John was living. The seventh power represents the one that exists when the beast comes to power. 97

98 What does verse 11 tell us about the beast? What do the ten horns of the beast represent? What does it say about the relationship these ten kings have with the beast? So the seven heads refer to seven different kingdoms that ruled throughout history. But the ten horns refer to 10 kings who are in power simultaneously and they give their power and authority over to the beast during the Tribulation. Now back in Revelation 13, the beast is described as a leopard, maybe referring to speed and how quickly he rises to power. He has powerful feet like a bear to crust those under him. His mouth is like a lion, loud and powerful, and he uses it to blaspheme God. In Revelation 11:7, at the blowing of the 7th trumpet it says the beast kills the two witnesses. Because no one was able to harm them for the first 3 1/2 years that they are prophesying and the beast finally kills them, perhaps this is the catalyst that allows the beast to be recognized and gain power. What does verse 3 say about one of its heads, one of the kingdoms? One of the kingdoms seemed to have a mortal wound. This seems to indicate that one of the kingdoms was defeated, but then regained power. Some believe that the last kingdom is a revived Roman empire. We will look at this more later, but in Daniel 9:26, there is a prophecy about Jerusalem being destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. In that verse it says that the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city of Jerusalem. So it appears since Rome destroyed Jerusalem, this prince will also be from Rome. It could be that he is not from the actual city of Rome, but from the kingdom of Rome. Below we see a map of the Roman Empire at its height. Today this includes some of the modern day countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Perhaps the Antichrist will be from a nation that has control of some or all of these countries. 98

99 What do we see in verses 3-4 to people s response to the beast and the dragon? Whoever the beast is, he will command world-wide attention. It will be someone that people are impressed with and want to follow. They will even worship him! What do we learn about the words of the beast in verses 5-6? How long was the beast given authority? Again, this is three and a half years, the last half of the Tribulation. According to verse 7, what will the beast do the saints? In Revelation 12:17 it says that the dragon will make war on those who hold to the testimony of Jesus and when the beast comes to power, this is what happens. 99

100 Who will the beast rule over according to verse 7? Who worships the beast according to verse 8? Who doesn t worship the beast? In verse 10, the believers are assured that their persecutors will be taken captive and slain with the sword. What does Revelation 20:1-10 say about what will happen to Satan? What does Revelation 19:15 say that God will do to his enemies? Because their doom is sure, what are the saints called to do during this time? When the beast comes to power at the midpoint of the Tribulation, he will make war and conquer the saints. Things will certainly be difficult for any believer in Jesus during these days. The saints are encouraged to endure and continue in their faith because Satan s time is short! (Revelation 12:12). They were to take comfort and find hope in the fact that Jesus will eventually be victorious! 100

101 Day 32: Daniel 7 and 9 Read Daniel 7 today. We are going to take a break from Revelation for a few days and look at some other places the beast is mentioned. He is called different names but as we compare descriptions, we will see it is referring to the same person. In Daniel 7, Daniel sees a vision of four beasts. We are going to focus our attention on the fourth beast. The fourth beast has ten horns (v. 7) and out of the ten horns came a little horn (v.8). According to verses 20 and 24, this horn coming up among the ten causes three of the other horns to fall. He then becomes the primary leader among the remaining horns. In verse 25, what does it say about the words of this little horn. Compare that with Revelation 13:5-6. What will he do to the saints? Compare that with Revelation 13:7. How long will this little horn have power? Compare that with Revelation 13:5. What does verse 26 say is the fate of this little horn? Now let s jump over to Daniel 9: As a bit of background, let s see if we can shed some light on the seventy weeks spoken of in verse 24. Seventy weeks is literally seventy sevens. It could be seventy days, weeks, months or years. Seventy sevens adds up to 490. So if the six things mentioned in Daniel 9:24 don t occur within 490 days, weeks or months, it is safe to assume it is 490 years. So one week would equal seven years for a total of 490 years. 101

102 What six things are the seventy weeks decreed to accomplish? What is the purpose? The first 7 weeks (49 years) occur at the the beginning of the rebuilding of Jerusalem in 444 BC. In Nehemiah 1:1-2:8, we see a decree by King Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem. It would have been completed in 395 BC. Though Nehemiah s wall construction project took only 52 days, it may have taken many years to remove the city s debris (after being desolate for so long), to build adequate housing, and to rebuild the streets and a moat. The next 62 weeks (434 years) take place between the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem until the Messiah is cut off, referring to Christ s crucifixion. Then we see a gap between the 69 weeks and the last week, the 70th week. Verse 26 mentions the people of the prince who is to come. What will these people do? The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Jesus prophesied about this in Matthew 24:1-2. He said that not one stone of the temple would remain standing. This was fulfilled when Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and killed thousands of Jews. So if the Romans are the people of the prince who is to come, this prince must be from a revived Roman empire. In verse 27, what does it say this prince will do in the last week (seven years)? Because the vision Daniel sees concerns the Jews, it seems likely that this prince will make a covenant with the Jews during the 7 years of the tribulation. 102

103 But what will he do for half of the week (3 1/2 years)? During the last half of the Tribulation, he will break his covenant with Israel and he will put an end to sacrifice and offerings. In Revelation 11 we see that the two witnesses who have been prophesying for 3 1/2 years are killed by the beast and they are killed in Jerusalem. This must be when he breaks his covenant with Israel. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. Instead of allowing worship in the temple, what will he do during this time? Daniel 9:27 refers to abominations and desolations. Read Matthew 24:15. Based on what you read in Daniel and in 2 Thessalonians, what does the abomination of desolation refer to? After the beast or the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel halfway through the Tribulation and sets himself up to be God, what is Israel told to do in Matthew 24:16-21? This corresponds to Revelation 12:13-14 where we see the woman (Israel) fleeing into the wilderness. Matthew 24:21 says that during this time there will be great Tribulation such as has never before been seen on the earth. Again, to put this in context to our timeline in Revelation, the beast or the Antichrist will come to power at or shortly after the seventh trumpet has been blown halfway through the Tribulation. 103

104 Day 33: Daniel 11:36-45 Read this section in Daniel 11 today. Here we see this world ruler introduced simply as a king. What do verses say he will do? In verse 38 we are told he honors the god of fortresses and a foreign god his fathers did not know. Compare Revelation 13: What takes place in these verses? What is being worshipped here? According to Daniel 11:39, how will he treat those who acknowledge him? Who will this king have conflicts with according to verse 40? After some fight against him, he will come into the glorious land, probably referring to Israel. What will happen to many when he comes to Israel? See verses 41 and 44. This could be referring to the persecution he begins against Israel. According to verse 41, who will be rescued and delivered out of his hand? This is the area of modern day Jordan. For whatever reason, this area will not be harmed. 104

105 Verse 43 tells us that he will be the ruler of great wealth, treasures of gold and silver. According to verse 45, where will he set up his kingdom? Some translations says seas which some understand to be between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. This would be at Jerusalem, at the glorious holy mountain, Mount Zion. Verse 45 simply says that when he comes to his end, no one will be there to help him. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 says that Jesus will kill him by the breath of his mouth. He will not be able to fight against the King of kings and he will be defeated! 105

106 Day 34: Daniel 12:1-13 Read Daniel chapter 12 today. What time period does at that time refer to. Reread Daniel 11: So halfway through the Tribulation when the Antichrist sets himself up to be worshipped is what is referred to here. What does it say about this time in verse 1? Comparing this to Revelation, this is when the woman (Israel) will flee into the wilderness to escape (Revealtion 12:14) and the beast will conquer the Saints (Revelation 13:7). Daniel asks how long this will last. What is the answer in verse 7? What else does verse 2 tell us will happen during this time period? We will study this more in depth later. In verse 4 Daniel is told to seal up the book until the end. What does it say will happen between when Daniel wrote it and the end of time? Perhaps this refers to the fact that people will be able to travel the world easily. With the increase of knowledge has come an increase in technical capabilities. Today there are cars and planes that make it easy to go back and forth and in the last 100 years there has been a big increase in technology and knowledge. In verse 8, Daniel wonders how all of this is going to turn out. He is not given a direct answer, but told to seal up the book. 106

107 Verses do give us a hint, though. In verse 11 how long does it say it will be from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up? This is 30 days longer than indicated in other places of Scripture, so perhaps the last 30 days extend into the Millennium. We will study the Millenium more later. Who does it say will be blessed in verse 12? This extends 75 days past the three and half years. Those who make it past this time of Tribulation into the Millennium under Christ s reign will be blessed. So we see that what Daniel tells us about the beast is the same as what we read about in the book of Revelation. Tomorrow we will go back to Revelation and see what else we learn about the beast. 107

108 Day 35: Revelation 13:11-18 Read chapter 13 again. What else does John see in verse 11? What does it tell you about the second beast in that he speaks like a dragon? Read Revelation 12:9-10. What will characterize his speech? What does verse 12 tell us about this other beast? What does verse 13 tell us this beast will be capable of? He will be able to perform miraculous signs by the power of Satan and he causes people to worship the first beast. Because he has power to work these miraculous signs, what will happen to people according to verse 14? What does this second beast tell people to do in verse 14? What is it given power to do to this image of the first beast? Somehow, it appears that the image that is made has life and breath in it. The purpose of creating this image is so that people will be deceived and worship the first beast. 108

109 According to verse 15, what will happen to those who do not worship the image of the beast? What else does this other beast do according to verses 16-17? Verse 18 tells us this beast is not symbolic of a country or a world power, but he is a man. His number is 666, the number of a man. We don t know the identity of the second beast other than it appears it is another man who receives his power from Satan and performs miraculous signs in order to deceive people. The second beast causes people to worship the first beast and to take his number so that they can buy and sell. The first and second beast work together. Read Revelation 19:20. What is another name for the second beast? So Scripture has a lot to say about the Antichrist. He is referred to as the beast, the little horn, and a king. He will come from a revived Roman Empire although we don t know what exactly that will look like. He will get his power from Satan. At the beginning of the Tribulation, he will make a covenant with Israel, but then he will break it half way through. At the end of 3 1/2 years (the midpoint of the Tribulation), he will kill the two witnesses and then come to power. Apparently there will be a temple in Jerusalem and he will put an end to all sacrifices half way through the Tribulation and will instead set himself up to be worshipped as God. People will marvel at him and will be deceived as they follow him. He will speak blasphemous things against God and he will persecute Israel and the saints. During the last half of the Tribulation people will be forced to take the mark of the beast in order to buy and sell. Those who do not worship the image of the beast will be killed. Although he is given great power for a short time, ultimately he will be defeated by the Lord Jesus. Again to put this in context, the events surrounding the beast take place after the 7th trumpet is blown and Satan is thrown down to earth. This is half way through the Tribulation. 109

110 What is the theme of chapter 13? 110

111 Matthew 24 Day 36 : Matthew 24:1-14; Luke 21:5-24 For the next couple of days, we are going to take a quick break from Revelation and tie in some events that Jesus talked to his disciples about and see how they relate to Revelation. Read the verses in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. In Matthew 24:1, Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple and the disciples were commenting on how magnificent the temple was. This was the temple that Herod built and it was large and impressive. In verse 2, what does Jesus say is going to happen to the temple? This happened in 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by the Romans. In their greed for gold in the temple, the Romans separated each stone, thus fulfilling Jesus words. Naturally, the disciples were curious about when this would happen and how they would recognize that it was near. From Mark 13:3, we are told specifically it is Peter, James, John and Andrew who ask Jesus about this privately. For them, having the temple destroyed seemed like the end of the age was near. But Jesus is going to answer their question in the first 14 verses of things that are going to happen leading up to the destruction of the temple, not the end times. In verses 5-7, what does Jesus say will happen that are the beginning of birth pains, but the end is not yet? Compare this with Luke 21:8-11. In verse 9, what did Jesus say would happen to the disciples? Compare this with Luke 21:

112 Read Luke 21:20-24 again. From the context of the disciples question and Jesus answer, do you think the events described here take place in 70 AD or during the end times? Unlike in Matthew 24, there is no reference to the abomination of desolation and it is not described as a time of tribulation unlike the world has ever seen. Luke 21:22-23 describe it as a time of vengeance and wrath against the Jews. This is not who God s wrath will be directed toward in the end times. Read Luke 19: Why does Jesus say that Jerusalem will be surrounded and the temple destroyed like this? It is a judgment against the Jews because they did not recognize the Messiah when he came to them. What will happen to the Jews during this time according to Luke 21:24? Jesus says this persecution of the Jews will continue until the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled. It seems this begins in 70 AD and continues through church age when God focuses on the Gentiles. Luke 21:25-28 describe what happens at the end of the times of the Gentiles. What occurs to show the Jews that the their redemption is near? The Second Coming will conclude the times of the Gentiles. When we get to the Millennial reign, it is during this time that God will turn his attention back to the Jews. 112

113 In Matthew 24:10-12, what does Jesus say will be true of some believers leading up to the destruction of the temple? According to Matthew 24:14, what does Jesus say will happen before the end comes? So these verses we studied today, occurred in 70 AD and fill in the gaps a little bit for us. In the verses we will look at tomorrow, Jesus continues his discussion about what will happen in the end times, but the disciples did not understand that there would be many years between the destruction of the temple and the coming of the Son of Man. 113

114 Day 37: Matthew 24:15-29 Read these verses in Matthew 24 carefully. Note how they differ from what we read yesterday. In verse 15, what is the sign that the end is near? As we looked at earlier from Daniel 9:27, Daniel 12:11 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, this is when the Antichrist removes the burnt offerings from the temple and sets himself up to be worshipped as God instead. What should people do when they see this? See verses Since this is the most intense tribulation the world has ever seen, it will be especially difficult for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Certainly one would be greatly concerned for their children during this time of tribulation. It would not bother a Gentile to have to flee on the Sabbath, but it would bother a Jew. But when the Jews see this abomination of desolation in the temple, they should flee because there will be great persecution against them from the Antichrist. After the Antichrist does this in the middle of the tribulation (after the seventh trumpet), what does it say will happen in verses 21-22? During the tribulation, what do verses say will happen? Compare this with Revelation 13:

115 These verses in Matthew 24 certainly correspond with the events described in Revalation. When the Antichrist comes to power and sets himself up to be worshipped as God, then things really start to worsen during the second half of the Great Tribulation, but as Matthew 24:33 says, When you see all these things, you know that He is near, at the very gates. Jesus is coming soon and the end is near for His enemies! 115

116 Revelation 14 Day 38: Revelation 14:1-13 Read Revelation 14 today. Mark the following words: then I looked, then I saw Lamb, Jesus heaven throne God angel beast wrath Spirit In chapter 13, we saw people take the mark of the beast; in chapter 14 we see the 144,000 sealed with the Lamb and the Father s name on their forehead. The mark or seal that people take shows where their allegiance is and who they are following. Who does John see standing on Mt. Zion? Verse 1 starts on earth, but the rest of the chapter takes place in heaven. What does he hear in heaven in verses 2-3? Who is singing the new song? What do we learn about the 144,000 from verses 4-5? 116

117 The events that take place in the rest of this chapter are all in preparation for the 7 bowls of God s wrath to be poured out. In chapter 14, we will see six different angels. What is the first angel s job in verse 6? What does this angel tell the people who dwell on the earth in verse 7? Underline the phrase the hour of his judgment has come. This is a very significant point in the book of Revelation and marks the beginning of the Day of the Lord. Later this week, we will look at the Day of the Lord more in depth. The first angel warns people to repent because God s wrath is going to be poured out in full strength during the 7 Bowls. God in his mercy, is still giving people a chance to repent by sending this angel as his messenger to those who dwell on the earth. What does the second angel announce? We will study more about Babylon in Revelation 17-18, but for now, we are told that it s doom is sure. What do we learn about Babylon in verse 8? What does the third angel say about those who take the mark of the beast? 117

118 These people will experience the full brunt of God s wrath and will be tormented forever. This seems to be a clear reference to their eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. See the descriptions of the lake of fire in Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. Because these people s doom is sure, the saints are encouraged to persevere and endure. How are the saints described in verse 12? Those who follow after the beast, worship him and take his mark. The saints are obedient to Jesus and follow Him. Because of the Great Tribulation that is taking place, some of the saints my have to endure even to death. In Revelation 13:15 we are told that those who do not worship the image of the beast will be killed. What encouragement does John hear from the voice from heaven in verse 13 about those who die in the Lord? Obviously this refers to the saints spoken of in verse 12 who have trusted in Jesus. Read Revelation 20:4-6. What blessing awaits these people who are killed for their faith during the Tribulation? It certainly will be a blessing for any saint who dies during the Tribulation. Through death, they will escape the persecution from the beast and they will not be hurt by the second death. Death has no power over them and cannot harm them. Their reward will be reigning with Christ during the Millennium. It may have been cause for alarm to hear that the time for God s wrath to be poured out had come, but for those who trusted Jesus, even if they died, they had nothing to fear. 118

119 Day 39: Revelation 14:14-20 Read Revelation 14 again today. What does John see in verse 14? What does the fourth angel say to the one who is sitting on the cloud? Mark the phrase for the hour to reap has come. This is the second time we are told in this chapter that the hour has come. It is now time for God s wrath to be fully poured out. So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle and the earth was reaped. What do we learn about the fifth angel in verse 17? How is the sixth angel described in verse 18? What does he tell the angel with the sickle? Compare that with Joel 3:13. What does this verse say about why the time has come to reap the harvest of the earth? In verse 19, where is the harvest of the earth thrown? 119

120 People would have understood the picture of a winepress. They would put the ripened grapes in a huge vat and then stand in the vat and trample the grapes. There was a hole in the vat that flowed into another container below that would collect the juice from the grapes. But here instead of grape juice, the picture is of blood. It indicates that there will be great bloodshed when God s wrath is poured out on mankind. Where does verse 20 tell us this winepress is located? Perhaps this is a reference to Jerusalem. What are we told about the blood that flows out of the winepress? A horse s bridle is roughly four feet high and 1,600 stadia is about 180 miles. This is probably not a literal river of blood, but it gives us a graphic picture of the bloodshed that is going to come. Read Isaiah 63:1-6. Who is described as treading the winepress in these verses? What is the result? In Revelation 19:13 Jesus is described as wearing a robe that is dipped or sprinkled in blood which could also be a picture of him treading the winepress. Even though it seems like sin and evil reigns on the earth right now, the hour will come when God s wrath will be poured out and mankind will be judged for their sin. What is the theme of chapter 14? 120

121 Day 40: The Day of the Lord We have reached the point in our study of Revelation where we need to see what the Bible says about the Day of the Lord and how it fits into what we have studied so far in the book of Revelation. So let s start in the Old Testament first. Read Joel 2:1-11. Write down everything you learn about how the Day of the Lord is described in these verses. Read Joel 2: What will happen before the Day of the Lord? Read Revelation 6: Write what happens in these verses. Do these sound like similar events? So at the 6th seal, the day of the Lord has not started yet, but it is close. Read Amos 5: How do these verses describe the Day of the Lord? Read Isaiah 13. How is the Day of the Lord described in verses 9 and 13? What is the purpose of the Day of the Lord according to verses 9 and 11? 121

122 What will people s response be when the Day of the Lord comes? See verses 6-8. What will be the signs in heaven during this time? See verses 10 and 13. What will be happening to people on earth? See verses Isaiah 13 is an oracle against Babylon. We saw in Revelation 14:7-8 that Babylon is fallen when it is announced that the hour of God s judgment has come. In Isaiah 13: 19-22, what does it say will happen to Babylon during the Day of the Lord? Compare this description with Revelation 18: What happens to Babylon here? How is the Day of the Lord described in Zephaniah 1:14-18? 122

123 Now let s go to the New Testament. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. What has to happen first before the day of the Lord comes according to verses 3-4? This takes place shortly after the 7th trumpet has been blown in Revelation. So the Day of the Lord starts somewhere between the 7th trumpet and the 1st bowl of God s wrath. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. How does it say the Day of the Lord will come in these verses? As we have seen, the Day of the Lord is characterized by an outpouring of God s wrath. According to verse 9, what does this verse say about believers? Do you think they will experience the Day of the Lord? Read 2 Peter 3: How does verse 10 say the Day of the Lord will come? What will happen in the Day of the Lord? These verses tell us what happens at the end of the Day of the Lord. The heavens and the earth will pass away and be burned up. So the Day of the Lord covers a significant period of time. It is a time of God s wrath poured out on sin and the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist will be revealed and have power during this time. We see that it begins at or shortly after the blowing of the 7th trumpet and includes the last half of the Tribulation. We will study this more later in Revelation, but there will be a battle against Jerusalem, known as the Battle of Armageddon and then Christ will return. He 123

124 will set up his Millennial kingdom where he will reign for 1,000 with a rod of iron. After the dead are judged, the heavens and earth will pass away and that will conclude the Day of the Lord. We will study each of these events more in detail as we get farther along in Revelation, but this gives us a good overview of what will happen during the Day of the Lord. 124

125 Day 41: The Mystery of God. In Revelation 10:5-7 it says, And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. Go back through your notes on Revelation What things happened after the seventh trumpet is sounded? Which of these things have the prophets spoken about? To fulfill means to bring to perfection or its destined goal. This mystery will be revealed when the seventh trumpet is blown. What was previously preached by the prophets will be revealed and there will be no more delay. Read Revelation 11: What happens in verse 15 after the seventh trumpet is blown? The beginning of the time of Christ s reign seems to start at the seventh trumpet. In verse 18, what does it say about the events associated with the seventh trumpet? What occurs and what is the purpose? 125

126 Do any of the events you listed that occur at the seventh trumpet match up with the description given in verse 18? With the blowing of the seventh trumpet, it says that God s wrath came, and as we have seen about the day of the Lord, it is a time when God s wrath will be poured out. In Isaiah 13:9 and 11, it says the purpose of the day of the Lord is to destroy sinners and to punish the world for its evil. In verse 18 it says the purpose is to destroy the destroyers of the earth. So as we compare Revelation 11 with some descriptions of the Day of the Lord, we begin to see some clues emerge. The mystery of God might be the prophecies given about the coming wrath and judgment of God. The seventh trumpet begins the day of the Lord and brings forth the seven bowls of God s wrath. The wrath of God is finished (Revelation 15:1; 16:17) when the seventh bowl is poured out. A mystery fully discloses something that was spoken about earlier. Maybe some questions that people have had down through the ages will be answered at this time. When will the day of the Lord occur? Why hasn t Jesus set up his kingdom yet? How can God be in control and yet still allow evil to exist? It seems like the mystery could answer some questions surrounding the Day of the Lord. But whatever the mystery is, it will be finished and fulfilled when the seventh trumpet is blown. 126

127 Revelation 15 Day 42: Revelation 15 Read chapter 15 today. Mark the following words: Then I saw, and I saw, after this I looked heaven seven angels wrath conquered This chapter gives us some details of what occurs right before the seven bowls of God s wrath are poured out. What sign does John see in heaven in verse 1? What are we told about these seven plagues? Describe what John sees in verse 2? It appears that these are those who have been killed by the beast during the Tribulation. Even though they died, it says they conquered. See Revelation 12:11. They sing the song of Moses. Moses sang a song of praise to the Lord in Exodus 15 after the Lord overthrew the armies of Egypt in the Red Sea. The Lord showed his power in a mighty way then, and these people are also praising the Lord for what he has done. 127

128 What different names of God are used in their song? What do these people say about God s actions? What do they say about God s character, about who He is? What does it say people s response will be to God as a result of his mighty acts? Compare this with Psalm 86:8-10. What does John see next in verses 5-6? Again we see one of the four living creatures that we were introduced to in Revelation 4. What does he do? What happens when he does this? The sanctuary that the seven angels came out of fills with smoke showing God s glory and his power. No one is able to go back into the sanctuary until the seven angels pour out the seven bowls of God s wrath. Tomorrow we will take a look at these more closely. What is the theme of chapter 15? 128

129 Revelation 16 Day 43: Revelation 16 Read chapter 16 today. Mark the following words: then I heard, and I heard, and I saw wrath God (including other names and pronouns) angel the first (second, etc.) angel poured out his bowl beast throne heaven dragon Babylon John hears a voice from the temple telling the angels to pour out the bowls. What do the bowls contain? What happens when the first bowl is poured out? Who did it affect? In Revelation 14:9-10, we read that an angel promises that those who have taken the mark of the beast will drink the wine of God s wrath. In the first bowl, we see God s wrath specifically directed at these people. What happens when the second bowl is poured out? What happens with the third bowl? 129

130 Why does it say in verses 5-6 that the sea and the rivers and springs turn to blood? So the second and third bowls are to avenge the blood of the saints that have been shed down through the ages. God says they are deserving of this judgment because they have killed his people. What do verses 5 and 7 tell us about God s judgments? Just here is actually the same Greek word for righteous. God is right and holy to enact this kind of judgment on them. What happens when the fourth bowl is poured out? What was people s response to this? The word for cursed here literally is blasphemed. They spoke against God and reviled him, refusing to repent or give God glory even though His power is being displayed in an awesome way. What happens with the fifth bowl? As we read in the Old Testament, the Day of the Lord is a day of darkness and gloom and we see that fulfilled though the fifth bowl. This darkness seems different than normal darkness because it causes anguish. Perhaps it is also some sort of spiritual darkness as well. It seems like the bowls are cumulative because people are still feeling the affects of the first bowl (painful sores) when the fifth bowl is poured out. Again what is the response? 130

131 What happens at the sixth bowl? What else does John see after the sixth bowl is poured out? With the dragon, the beast and false prophet, we see Satan s counterfeit trinity. What do these demonic spirits do? We saw when we studied the Day of the Lord, that Jesus coming is described like a thief. His coming will be unexpected and cause loss for the unsaved. This is mentioned again in verse 15. There is a blessing mentioned for the believers who are anticipating His coming and are ready. As we will see, the climax of the battle of Armageddon is at the Second Coming when Christ returns with the armies of heaven and sets foot on the Mount of Olives. Armageddon comes from the Greek Harmagedōn, which transliterates the Hebrew words for Mount (har) of Megiddo. It is commonly understood to be located at the Plain of Esdraelon pictured on the right. It is said that Napoleon called it the ideal battlefield. We will take a closer look at the battle of Armageddon tomorrow. 131

132 If you look on the map, the Plain of Esdraelon is near Galilee. 132