Lesson #38

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REVELATION AND THE SECOND COMING
LESSON #38
A SPIRITUAL VIEW OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION – REV 14:1-12

• MEMORY VERSE: MAR 16:15

• THE TRIBULATION EVENTS AT THE MIDDLE OF THE SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD:
  • THE ANTI-CHRIST BREAKS HIS OWN PEACE TREATY THAT PROTECTS THE JEWS. (DAN 9:27)
    • INSTEAD OF PROTECTION, HE PURSUES THEM AND PLACES MANY JEWS IN CAPTIVITY IN EGYPT. (DEU 28:68)
      • MANY JEWS FLEE FOR SAFETY IN PETRA. (MAT 24:16-21 ISA 16:1-5)
  • THE ANTI-CHRIST SUFFERS A MORTAL HEAD WOUND. (REV 13:3)
    • THE FALSE PROPHET APPEARS TO RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD. (REV 13:12)
    • AN IMAGE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST IS PLACED IN THE JEWISH TEMPLE FOR WORSHIP BY ALL. (REV 13:14-15)
  • SATAN FALLS FROM HEAVEN TO INDWELL THE ANTI-CHRIST ON EARTH. (REV 9:1 REV 13:2)
  • THE ONE-WORLD RELIGIOUS HEADQUARTERS IN ROME IS DESTROYED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST. (REV 18)
    • WORLD ECONOMIC DEPRESSION BRINGS MANY CHANGES BY THE ANTI-CHRIST:
      • CHANGES IN SOCIAL LAWS TO HELP ECONOMICS SUCH AS BIRTH CONTROL, ABORTION, EUTHANASIA, MARRIAGE RESTRICTIONS, ETC. (DAN 7:25)
  • THE ANTI-CHRIST ESTABLISHES A NEW MONEY SYSTEM (666) WITH NEW HEADQUARTERS IN JERUSALEM. (REV 13:16-17)
• THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD ARE CALLED THE GREAT TRIBULATION.

• READ REV 14:1-5
  • IS THE SCENE IN HEAVEN OR ON EARTH?
    • THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SINCE SOME SCENES IN THE CHAPTER SEEM TO BE IN HEAVEN WHILE OTHERS SEEM TO BE ON EARTH.
      • MT. ZION = CAN REFER TO HEAVEN (HEB 12:22) OR IT CAN REFER TO JERUSALEM IN THE MILLENNIUM. (PSA 2 PSA 48 PSA 132 ISA 2:2-4)
    • PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THE SCENE IS ON EARTH IN THE MILLENNIUM, AFTER THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST TO EARTH.
      • THE SCENE APPEARS TO BE A FORWARD LOOK IN TIME TO THE MILLENNIUM WHEN CHRIST WILL REIGN ON EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS.
        • IT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSECUTED BELIEVERS WHO WILL HAVE TO ENDURE THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
  • CHRIST AND THE 144,000 BELIEVERS
    • THE VOICE OF MANY WATERS (2) = A VOICE WITH AUTHORITY
    • THE VOICE AS THE SOUND OF GREAT THUNDER (2) = A VOICE OF JUDGMENT’
    • THE NEW SONG (3) = A SONG OF THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS TO CHRIST THAT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE SONG OF FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT. (EXO 15)
      • WHEN THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF A NEW SONG, IT IS A SONG OF REDEMPTION THROUGH THE PAYMENT OF A BLOOD SACRIFICE. (EXO 15:1-2 REV 5:9)
  • 144,000 JEWS
    • WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE 144,000 JEWISH BELIEVERS IN CHRIST PREVIOUSLY IN OUR STUDY IN REV 7. (LESSON #24)
      • THIS PASSAGE IN REV 14 GIVES US MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS GROUP OF BELIEVERS:
        • “NOT DEFILED WITH WOMEN” (4) = SPIRITUALLY PURE AND RIGHTEOUS.
          • THEY ARE REDEEMED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
          • THEY DID NOT DEFILE THEMSELVES WITH THE WORLD FALSE RELIGION LED BY THE FALSE PROPHET (MYSTERY BABYLON REV 17)
            • REMEMBER THAT THE FIGURE OF A WOMAN IS OFTEN USED IN SCRIPTURE TO REPRESENT A RELIGIOUS SYSTEM. (REV 12)
        • “IN THEIR MOUTH WAS FOUND NO GUILE (5) = THEY DID NOT DEFILE THEMSELVES WITH TAKING THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THE ANTI-CHRIST.
        • THEY ARE THE “FIRSTFRUITS” =
          • THE 144,000 JEWS ARE THE FIRST PART OF THE HARVEST OF JEWISH BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST IN THE TRIBULATION.
            • IN THE JEWISH AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM, WHEN THE CROP RIPENED, THE JEWS WERE TO TAKE THE PART OF THE CROP THAT RIPENED FIRST AND OFFER IT TO GOD AS A “FIRSTFRUITS” OFFERING. BY FAITH THEY WERE TRUSTING GOD FOR AN ABUNDANT HARVEST AFTER THAT.
              • JESUS’S RESURRECTION WAS THE “FIRSTFRUITS” (1COR 15:20) AND BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AFTER THAT ARE THE FULL HARVEST.
          • THE 144,000 JEWS ARE THE FIRST OF THE JEWS THAT WILL COME TO CHRIST IN THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. THEN THERE WILL BE A FULL HARVEST, A NATIONAL CONVERSION OF THE JEWS, AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

• READ REV 14:6-12 THREE SPECIAL ANGELS
  • ANGELIC WARNINGS AND BLESSINGS
    • ANGEL #1
      • WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE FIRST ANGEL AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (6-7)
        • THE MESSAGE IS THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL. WHAT IS THAT?
          • THE WORD, GOSPEL, MEANS = GOOD NEWS.
            • THE WORD, GOSPEL, IS MENTIONED VARIOUS TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. THESE OCCURRENCES GIVE US A FULL DEFINITION OF THE WORD, GOSPEL.
              • =1= THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST (MAR 1:1)
                • THE ASPECTS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST REFER TO HIS VIRGIN BIRTH, HIS INCARNATION, HIS DEATH, AND HIS RESURRECTION. THESE ASPECTS GIVE US GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE AND PLAN OF REDEMPTION.
              • =2= THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD (ACT 20:24)
                • THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION BY THE GRACE OF GOD WITHOUT WORKS.
              • =3= THE GOSPEL OF GOD (ROM 1:1-6)
                • THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD POURED OUT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S PROMISE FORETOLD BY THE PROPHETS AND FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST.
              • =4= THE GOSPEL OF PEACE (ROM 10:15)
                • THIS IS THE RECONCILIATION OF MAN TO GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
              • =5= THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION (EPH 1:13)
                • THIS IS THE REGENERATION OF MAN WHO BECOMES A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST, THE POSSESSION OF GOD, SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
              • =6= THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM (MAT 4:23)
                • THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE PRESENT EMBODIED IN JESUS CHRIST AND INSIDE OF THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST.
                • THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO COME ON THE EARTH AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (MAT 24:14)
              • =7= THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL (REV 14:6-7 ROM 2:16)
                • THIS REFERS TO JUDGMENT AND ETERNAL SEPARATION OF MEN INTO ONE KINGDOM OR THE OTHER, THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR THE KINGDOM OF SATAN.
      • THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE (7)
        • THE PURPOSE IS TO MOVE MEN TO FEAR GOD, TO GIVE HIM GLORY, AND TO WORSHIP HIM.
    • ANGEL #2
      • WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE SECOND ANGEL AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (8)
        • THE MESSAGE IS THE PREDICTION OF THE FALL OF BABYLON, THE ONE-WORLD RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF REV 17.
          • “THAT GREAT CITY” (8)
            • THERE ARE 3 INTERPRETATIONS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF THIS CITY:
              • =1= JERUSALEM
                • JERUSALEM WILL BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WORLD-WIDE WORSHIP OF THE ANTI-CHRIST IN THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
              • =2= A REBUILT BABYLON
                • SADAAM HUSSEIN REBUILT THE OLD CITY OF BABYLON.
                • THIS CITY WILL BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE ONE-WORLD FALSE RELIGION DURING THE LAST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
              • =3= ROME
                • THIS CITY WILL BE THE CENTER OF THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE ORIGINAL LOCATION OF THE WORLD FALSE RELIGION IN THE FIRST 3 ½ YEARS OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD.
        • NATIONS DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION (8).
          • IMMORAL SEXUAL TERMS OFTEN USED IN SCRIPTURE TO DEPICT SPIRITUAL IDOLATRY.
            • ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, PEOPLE FALL UNDER THE DECEPTION OF THE WORLD FALSE RELIGION.
    • ANGEL #3
      • WHAT IS THE MESSAGE OF THE THIRD ANGEL AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (9-12)
        • THIS IS A WARNING AGAINST THE ANTI-CHRIST AND RECEIVING HIS MARK OF 666. (REV 13:16-18)
      • THE RESULTS IF A PERSON DOES NOT HEED THE WARNING BUT RECEIVES THE MARK:
        • THAT PERSON WILL DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD (10)
          • HE WILL BE JUDGED AND REAP THE JUDGMENT OF ALL NON-BELIEVERS.
          • THE CUP OF HIS INDIGNATION (10)
            • HE WILL SUFFER THE BOWL JUDGMENTS TO COME IN REV 16-18.
          • FIRE & BRIMSTONE (10) =
            • HE WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
  • WHY ARE THESE THREE ANGELS SO IMPORTANT?
    • THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY AN ANGEL PREACHES THE GOSPEL
      • AN IMPORTANT FINAL WARNING WHEN HUMAN TESTIMONY IS SILENCED BY THE ANTI-CHRIST’S MARTYRDOM OF THE 2 WITNESSES, THE MARTYRDOM OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
        • IN GOD’S GREAT MERCY, HE DOES NOT LEAVE MAN WITHOUT A WITNESS TO THE TRUTH.
• APPLICATION:
  • WE SEE THE CHARACTER OF GOD IN THIS CHAPTER:
    • THE MERCY AND JUSTICE OF GOD ARE PERFECTLY BALANCED:
      • WE SEE GOD’S GREAT LOVE AND CONCERN FOR MAN. HE IS SO CONCERNED HE EVEN SENDS ANGELS TO GIVE MAN A WARNING OF COMING JUDGMENT.
  • BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN MAN THE JOB OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL, WE MUST TAKE SERIOUSLY THE GREAT COMMISSION:
    • REMEMBER THE MEMORY VERSE: MAR 16:15
      • WE MUST PREACH THE GOSPEL WHILE WE CAN.
      • WE MUST PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GREAT GRACE AND MERCY THAT BRINGS SALVATION TO SINFUL MAN..

HOMEWORK
REVELATION 14:13-20
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF REV 14:1-12
  • HOW SERIOUSLY DO YOU TAKE GOD’S COMMAND TO PREACH THE GOSPEL?

• PRAY THIS WEEK FOR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO IS A NON-BELIEVER
• PRAY GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH A NON-BELIEVER THIS WEEK. WRITE YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE.

• PREPARATION FOR REV 14:13-20
  • READ REV 14:13-20

• WHAT DO YOU LEARN ABOUT CHRIST? (14-20)

• WHAT IS THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD?

• MEMORY VERSE: REV 14:13