[ FUTURE LESSONS FOR TODAY S LIVING THE BOOK OF REVELATION INDUCTIVE LESSON FOURTEEN CAST OUT Day One Text: (Begin this week s lesson by reading the assigned passage several times.) Hint: Read the passage repeatedly, prayerfully, thoughtfully, meditatively and patiently. Revelation 12:1 17 1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a 1
time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Day Two Words Matter: In this portion of the lesson we will take a closer look at one or two key words in the chapter. You will need to have your tools or resources at hand, such as more than one Bible translation, a dictionary or Bible dictionary, concordance, atlas, and encyclopedia. If you don t have all of these, simply use what you do have to enrich your learning. To do some digging on your own, start with your dictionary (or Bible dictionary) and then look up the references to add to your understanding. If you have additional resources, you may want to keep digging. Record these additional notes in the Toolbox section of your study. After you ve completed the investigative process, write a definition in your own words. Your investigation in today s lesson will lay the groundwork for deeper discoveries in subsequent lessons, so be as thorough as you can. Labor: Revelation 12:2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth." Dictionary or Concordance definition: What does the Bible have to say? Jeremiah 30:6 Micah 4:10 John 16:21 2
Write your own definition: Day Three Toolbox: Use your toolbox or secondary helps to enhance your observational findings. Study Bible: Bible Concordance: Bible Dictionary: Bible Handbooks: Bible Atlas: Bible Commentary: Day Four Inductively Speaking Obviously, things that are unlike focus on just the opposite of things that are alike. There are two categories to this principle concerning things unlike. In the first category, we will focus on the use of metaphors and the second category, Scripture containing irony. Last week we looked at things that are alike. Simile was the synonym we used for things alike; a passage of Scripture containing similar content to make a point. In this week s lesson, we will use the synonym contrast for things that are unlike. Writers use contrast as an artist, architect, interior designer, or landscaper would use contrast: to highlight the main theme of their creation. Why use this technique? Contrast is used to get our attention. It is the creator s use of contrast to draw the eye and mind of the beholder to a specific point. This week s word or marker leading the reader into things unlike or contrast is the word but. Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours" 3
(Genesis 20:7). In this verse the Lord Himself used this word but, contrasting the two choices Abimelech was given concerning the fate of Abraham and Sara. His first choice was to accept who Abraham was and receive the blessings of what God would do with Abimelech through Abraham. The contrasting second choice was also available to him but with tremendous consequences of what God would do to Abimelech concerning himself and his families future. As Christian s we are faced with contrasts in our own life, through free will we must make a choice: Follow God s plan and direction with His covering of grace and mercy or the contrast, choosing the world and all its lifeless pursuits. Revelation 12:1 6 (Today s highlighted passage of study.) 1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 1 6 4
Inductively Speaking Metaphors are used when looking at things unlike. This particular metaphor can be more subtle in its contrast as Jesus demonstrated in Luke 18: 1 8. Jesus points out, through the metaphor of a court setting in the parable of the Persistent Widow, the slow action of a worldly judge in contrast (unlike) to the swift and righteous judgment of the true Judge, our heavenly Father. II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 1 6 Inductively Speaking Finally, irony is an important area we will look at dealing with things unlike. We see this in many areas of Scripture. The definition of irony in Webster s New World Dictionary states this: Irony is a contrast, as in a play, between what a character thinks the truth is, as revealed in a speech or action, and what the audience or reader knows the truth to be. Irony has its place in Genesis as Joseph s brothers, in an act of evil, conspire to do away with Joseph because of jealousy. An ironic contrast to this situation came after many years and through many trials. At the beginning of this story, Joseph s brothers had no need for his coat, his dreams or him. Through deceit and rejection, they cast Joseph out, but through the brothers extreme needs, God s providence, and Joseph s forgiveness and grace he reeled them back in. By contrast, the lesson of Joseph and his brothers is this: Relationships die in the chill of rejection and deceit, but are restored and thrive in the warmth of forgiveness and grace. III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 1 6 Day Five Revelation 12:7 12 (Today s highlighted passage of study.) 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood 5
of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 7 12 II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 7 12 III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 7 12 Day Six Revelation 12:13 17 (Today s highlighted passage of study.) 13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to 6
make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. I. Observation: Finding the literal facts or most obvious details of the passage. Hint: Begin observation by asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Verses 13 17 II. Interpretation: Discovering the lessons or meaning of God's instruction to His people. Hint: Try to place yourself with these people, in their circumstances, at this time of Bible history. Verses 13 17 III. Application: Applying the lessons and meaning of God's instructions to His people. Hint: Apply the lesson or lessons you found in the interpretation section in the form of a question. Verses 13 17 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Impact Statement: A simple personal statement about how the Holy Spirit will guide and direct you from this week s study. 2011 Craig L. Thomas. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org 7
Prayer Requests: Lecture Notes: 8