WELCOME TO THE DRAMA OF REVELATION A Study of The Book of REVELATION SESSION VIII 03/07/17 Session 1 Introduction and Background to Revelation Session 2 The Prologue (Chapter 1): Vision of the Coming King Session 3 The Proclamation (Chapters 2 & 3): Letters to the Seven Churches Session 4 The Problem (Chapters 4 & 5): Seven-Sealed Scroll THIS WEEK S CLASS REVELATION 14-16 Session 5 The Process: Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets (Ch. 9 11) Session 6 & 7 Seven Key Figures in the End-Times Drama Session 8 Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 14 16) Session 9 Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 17 20) Session 10 Seven New Things (Chapters 21-22) 1
UNDERSTANDING THE UNFOLDING OF THE EVENTS Seals (6-7) Trumpet Judgments (8 11) Bowl Judgments (15-16) THE WORLD AT WAR (CHAPTER 8) The seven trumpets begin to sound and terrible calamities follow. These judgments are so severe that the global fire they ignite nearly destroys the whole planet. The whole world is at war and all life is in danger of extinction. 2
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET 8:6 9:21 When the seventh seal was opened, the scroll was ready to be unrolled, read, and put into effect. At that moment, heaven fell silent. Seven angels were given trumpets. The prayers of the saints went up before God, and in response, fire was cast upon the earth. The thunder of judgment rumbled. With that warning, the trumpets are blown. CAN IT GET ANY WORSE? (CHAPTER 10) This chapter serves as an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets. It includes the apocalyptic thunders, which are sealed up and kept secret. The sounding of the seventh trumpet is delayed until John can take the little book, devour it, and prophesy again. 3
HELL ON EARTH (CHAPTER 11) The invasion of Jerusalem by the Gentiles is accompanied by the rise of the two witnesses. The scene shifts to the earthly Jerusalem, which is the center of the coming conflict with the beast. The witnesses are martyred and then miraculously resurrected. WAR IN HEAVEN CHAPTERS 12 AND 13 Right in the middle of the Book of Revelation lists the seven symbolic players in the great end-times drama. The identity of these figures is crucial to the interpretation of the whole book. 4
The Seven Symbolic Players in the Great End-Times Drama Woman 12:1-2, 6, 13-16 Dragon 12:3-4, 9, 12-13 Male Child 12:2, 5 Michael 12:7-12 Rest of her offpring 12:17 Beast of the sea 13:1-10 Beast of the earth 13:11-18 Israel Satan Christ Archangel Seed of Woman (saved Israel) Antichrist False Prophet WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD CHAPTERS 14 Having identified the key players in the eschatological end game, John now reintroduces the drama itself. The everlasting gospel is proclaimed and the fall of Babylon is announced. The Son of man appears to judge the world and to tread the wine press of the wrath of God. 5
WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD Following the typical pattern of the Revelation, Chapter 14 provides an overview of what follows in Chapters 15 19. The chapter opens with the 144,000 and proceeds to four climactic announcements: The everlasting gospel The fall of Babylon The judgement of the lost The Blessed of the saved John s perspective in this overview takes us all the way to Armageddon (v. 19-20) and the judgments that follow (v. 11). WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD The 144,000 are the same group as in 7:3-8. What is more precise in this passage is that they are more precisely defined as male virgins who are purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb (v. 4). God seals this group unto salvation. They are described as: Purchased and sealed to God (v. 1-3) Morally pure male virgins (v. 4) Followers of the Lamb (v. 4) Speakers of the truth (v. 5) Blameless (v. 5) 6
WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD Chapter 7 refers to the 144,000 as the bond-servants of our God (7:3), and this passage calls them the purchased (14:3-4). They are never specifically called witnesses the claims of the Jehovah s Witnesses. Nor are they specifically called preachers as some assume. These are the saved Jews of the Tribulation period. NOW HEAR THIS! Three angels fly across the sky, one after another, making dramatic and climactic announcements. These are followed by a fourth announcement from heaven itself. Each of these serves as a statement (preview) of what is to follow. 7
NOW HEAR THIS! 1. Fear God and give Him glory and Worship Him (14:6-7). 2. Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great (14:8). 3. The wrath of God mixed in full strength (14:9-11) 4. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (14:12-13) THE GRAPES OF WRATH The wine press of the wrath of God (v. 19) symbolizes the severity of this judgment. It s location is with-out (outside) the city, indicating that the last great conflict will be near, but not in, Jerusalem. The final conflict s so severe that the blood of those killed runs like a river, neck-deep ( up to the horses bridles ). The depth of the blood and the land area covered are both indicative of a massive slaughter and loss of human life. 8
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES CHAPTERS 15 The final expression of the wrath of God is contained in the bowl judgments. The are called the seven last plagues. Before they are poured out upon the earth, the saved martyrs of the Great Tribulation appear singing the songs of deliverance ad redemption. Then seven angels proceed out of the heavenly temple with seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES The pouring out of the seven bowls (vials) are the divine judgments preceding the second coming of Christ. The seven seals resulted in seven trumpets, which result in the seven bowls. What has been anticipated in the cup of wine (14:10), the harvest (14:14-16) and the vintage (14:17-20) is now about to happen. But before it does, we are again reminded that God is still in control. The throne of heaven still overrules the events on earth. 9
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES The seven angels are said to have seven plagues, which are the last. These angels are pictured holding seven vials or bowls. THE LAST EXODUS You cannot miss the obvious symbolism drawn from the Exodus story in this chapter (15:1-8). The final judgments on the Antichrist will be similar to, but much worse than those that fell on Pharaoh in Exodus 7 10. The similarities point to a similar purpose of both judgment and deliverance. 10
THE SONG OF THE LAMB In this hymn of praise, God is worshiped for His great and marvelous acts. He is praised as the King of the nations. This praise results in the theoretical question: Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? Because You alone are holy Because all nations shall worship You Because Your righteous acts are revealed. THE SHEKINAH GLORY In verse 7, one of the four creatures provides the angels with the golden cups filled to the brim with the wrath of God. As the angels receive their goblets of divine retribution, the smoke fills the temple with the Shekinah glory of God, as it did in the Tabernacle and the first temple. 11
Session 1 Introduction and Background to Revelation Session 2 The Prologue (Chapter 1): Vision of the Coming King Session 3 The Proclamation (Chapters 2 & 3): Letters to the Seven Churches Session 4 The Problem (Chapters 4 & 5): Seven-Sealed Scroll NEXT WEEK S CLASS REVELATION 17-20 Session 5 The Process: Seven Seals and Seven Trumpets (Ch. 9 11) Session 6 & 7 Seven Key Figures in the End-Times Drama Session 8 Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 14 16) Session 9 Plagues: Seven Bowls of Final Judgements (Chapters 16 20) Session 10 Seven New Things (Chapters 21-22) 12