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REVELATION – LESSON 6

I. CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED – PERSECUTORS JUDGED (Chapters 12-14)

A. The woman of light – the spiritual remnant or daughter of Zion (12:1-2, 5-6, 14-17); (cf. Micah 4:6-13).

1. Wrapped around with heavenly light – sun, moon, 12 stars – God’s covenant people (v.1)

2. Delivered of a man child – Christ (v.5; Psalms 2:9).

3. Flees to the wilderness a place of God’s care and preparation for 1260 days (3 1/2 years). – an incomplete                   time (v. 6).

4. Given eagles wings for swift flight to wilderness to place of God’s care for “time, times and half a time” (3 1/2)                 – incomplete (half of seven) time (v.14).

5. Dragon makes war with her seed after failing to ingulf her with the overwhelming river (v. 16-17).  God does                 not allow Satan the complete victory.

B. The Red Dragon – the Devil, Satan, deceiver of the world (12:3-4, 7-12, 13-17).

            1. Red – bloodshed (v. 3)

            2. Seven heads – perfect wisdom (deceitfully crafty) (v.3).

            3. Ten horns – full or great power (v. 3)

            4. Seven diadems upon heads – perfect authority in his realm.

            5. Tail draws and casts down 1/3 of stars – large and influential, casting down partially God’s host (cf. Dan. 8:10,                 24).

            6. Stands before woman to devour man child – enemy of God’s chosen (v.4)

            7. Fails to devour man child (Christ) on earth – seeks to conquer Him in heaven – defeated by Michael (Dan.                 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9) – cast down in defeat (v. 7-9).  Resurrection of Christ conquered Satan (Eph. 1:20-                 23; Heb. 2:14-15; Rom. 8:33-39)

a. People of God victorious through Christ (v. 10-12)

(1). Because of the blood of the lamb

(2). The word of their testimony

(3). Loved not their life even unto death

8. Pursues woman only to be thwarted by the protective God (12:13-16)

9. Turns to make war with the woman’s seed - Christs

C. The Devil’s allies: Two Beasts (Chapter 13)

1. Beast of the Sea: the persecuting political power – Domitian (13:1-10).

a. Ten horns – fullness of power (v.1)

b. Seven heads – complete or great wisdom in his realm (v.1)

c. Ten horns on heads – fullness of authority with power (v.1)

d. Names of blasphemy on heads – arrogance toward God (v. 1; cf. Dan. 7:7-8; 17-27)

e. In league with Devil – swift, crushing, and powerful, embodiment of Daniel’s first three beasts leading                 up to the fourth kingdom – Roman Empire (cf. Dan. 7:4-7, 12, 17, 23).

f. Death stroke that had occurred with persecuting NERO had now been renewed in persecution under                DOMITIAN (v. 3).

g. Glory and worship of Domitian – Emperor worship (v. 4)

(1). Except those who are in the lamb’s book of life (v. 8).

h. Beast has political power and uses it make war on saints for an incomplete times – 42 months (3 1/2     years) (v.7; cf. Dan. 7:23-26).

i. Message of comfort for Christian: victory will come in God’s way not man’s – the patience of the saints    (v. 9-10).  

2. The Beast of the Earth – false religion – emperor worship (13:11-18)

a. “Another” beast – same genius of the first beast, exercising same power (v. 11-12).

b. Two horns like a lamb – strength in religion (sacrificial lamb, but inspired of Devil).

c. Makes earth worship the first beast (v. 12)

d. False signs offered to deceive – make dead idols seem alive         (v. 13-14).  

e. The hierarchy of emperor worship had authority to force worship of emperor (v. 15-17).

(1). People could be killed

(2). People could not engage in commerce with those who were not identified with such worship.

f. Message of comfort for the Christian – the beast that appears to be speaking as God is in reality, only man – look at this number 666 – it falls short of 7, the number of perfection (God) (v. 18).

D. The 144, 000 with the lamb in heaven (14:1-5)

1. On the mount Zion – place of permanence and security (v. 1)

2. Name of God on foreheads – belong to God and His cause (v. 1; cf. 7:3-4).

3. Sing a new song depicting a new situation – only they can learn – the ones purchased out of the earth (v. 2-3).

a. Blending with a voice that is majestic (waters) with volume (thunder) and melodious joy (as harpers                 harping).

b. From heaven

4. Pure – therefore blessed (v. 4-5).

            a. not defiled with women – virgins

            b. follows the lamb withersoever lamb goes.

            c. purchased – be first fruits unto God and lamb

           d. no deceit in mouth

           e. no blemish

E. Angels announcing Judgment and Blessing (14:6-13)

1. Angel declaring for all to worship God – the Creator; fear Him; for judgment is come.  Beast of sea and earth                 cannot be compared to Creator of heaven, earth, sea, fountains (v. 6-7).

2. Second angel decrees fall of Babylon the great – the city of personifying perpetual evil influence, which                 provokes God’s wrath (v. 8).

3. Third angel announcing ETERNAL judgment upon individuals who worship the beast (v. 9-11).

4. Patience and blessed state of saints (v. 12-13).

           a. Patience: keeping God’s commandments and the faith.

           b. Blessedness: Christian who dies in the Lord rests (is refreshed) from toil and adversity while securing                lasting encouraging influence on others.

F.  Harvest of Judgment (14:14-20)

            1. Christ (as son of man) sitting upon while cloud (God coming in judgment) hears angel coming from God’s                 presence (Temple) with command to reap the earth (judgment on persecutors) (v. 14-16).

            2. Angel comes from God’s presence (Temple) and hears angel who has come from altar (place of prayers of                 saints – 8:3-5) to gather the ripe vintage (full of evil) and trodden in God’s winepress (judgment on                 persecutors) (v. 17-20).

a. Blood deep (to horses’ bridles) and 1600 furlongs (200 mi.)

b. Judgment in time upon the persecuting power – victory for the saints.                      

       

QUESTIONS:

1. Who is the woman arrayed or clothed with the sun?  Be able to explain your conclusion.

2. Identify the one to whom the woman gives birth:

3. Who is the “Dragon?”

4. Why is his color “red?”

                                         

5. Is 12:7-9 speaking of the events connected with the origin of Satan?

6. What is the significance of “1260 days” and “time, times and half a time?”

7. What three battles does the Dragon lose in chapter 12, and what one battle does he pursue?

8. Identify:

 a. the beast coming from the sea:

 b. the beast coming from the earth:

9. Why can we be sure that the first beat would be coming during the days of the Roman Empire?

10. What is the patience and the faith of the saints?

11. How does the beast of the earth deceive those dwelling on the earth?

12. How does the beast of the earth hurt those who refuse to be identified with the beast of  the sea?

13. What does the number 666 signify?

14. What was written on the forehead of the 144, 000?  What does this signify?

15. What was the voice “like” that was heard from heaven?

16. How come only the 144,000 could learn the song being sung before the throne?

17. From the description of the 144,000 in chapter 14, they represent:

 a. the faithful Jews who died before the coming of Christ.

 b. the Christians dwelling on the earth.

 c. the faithful remnant including both Jews and Christians who have already died.

 d. None of the above.

18. Who is fallen Babylon the great?

19. What kind of judgment is prepared for those who worship he beast and his image?

20. Why are those who die in the Lord considered blessed by the Lord?

21. What is connected with one like the son of man sitting on the cloud?

22. What does the sharp sickle signify?

23. How does the angel coming from the altar help us know that God answers prayer?

24. Who is going through God’s winepress of wrath?

25. How deep was the blood coming from the winepress?  What is the point of this description?