A Bible Study on REVELATION

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things
which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His
servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of
Jesus Christ, and to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those
who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in
it; for the time is near. —Revelation 1:1-3
Revelation, the last book of the Bible, has often been
contrasted with Genesis, the first book of the Bible. In Genesis we learn of the
creation of heaven and earth. Satan appeared; sin, sorrow, and death entered the
human race; and access to the tree of life was removed. In Revelation we see
that Satan and his works are doomed; sin, sorrow, and death are vanquished; the
tree of life is restored to a new earth; and those who believe on the Savior are
saved and live in God's eternal heaven.
The title of the book is The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The
word "revelation" or the Greek "apocalypse" means an
uncovering, an unveiling, a revealing. Here we see Jesus in all His glory as He
truly is, Creator and Lord of heaven and earth. Rather than focus on
interpretations of man, we can turn our eyes to Jesus, the central Person of the
book. He is worthy to be worshiped and served with all our being.
We may not know exactly when the events of Revelation take
place. But we can be sure that everything written is true and certain.
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass
away" (Matthew 24:35).
May this Bible study turn our hearts to Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith. May our response to this study be to worship the Lord
Jesus and serve Him with joy. —V. R. Benson
_____________________________________
©1996 by V. R. Benson
The Bible text used is from the New King James Version © 1979, 1980, 1982,
Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Used by permission. Cover art by Warner
Sallman. Used by permission of Warner Press.
LESSON 1. JESUS BRINGS US A MESSAGE
Revelation 1:4-11
4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him
who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before
His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from
the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and
washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to
His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, and they also who
pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so,
Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,"
says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the
word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and,
"What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are
in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to
Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
The Life of Jesus Christ
1. Jesus had come to earth from the Father as the faithful witness. Isaiah had
prophesied:
"Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader
and commander for the people" (Isaiah 55:4). Jesus Himself said, "For
this cause I was born, . . . that I should bear witness to the truth. . ."
(John 18:37b).
2. Jesus was the firstborn from the dead. He was the first person who rose from
the dead never to die again. "Death no longer has dominion over Him"
(Romans 6:9b).
3. Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth. He is "the King of kings
and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15b).
4. Jesus loved us and washed us from our sins in His own
blood. "But if we
walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John
1:7). Jesus died for us so that His blood could wash our sins away. "For it
is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11b). Do you
want your sins to be washed away? Jesus can hear you right now. Confess your
sins to Him, repent of them (turn away from them). Ask Him to come into your
heart and live in you. Thank Him for forgiving your sins. His Spirit will live
in you and help you to overcome sin.
5. Jesus is coming back to earth with clouds—the same way He ascended into
heaven
after His resurrection from the dead. "Now when He had spoken these
things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of
their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up,
behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, `Men of Galilee,
why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from
you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven'
" (Acts 1:9-11). When He returns, will you be ready to meet Him? "And
now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence
and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 John 2:28). Those who are
not ready to meet Him will mourn. Those who know Him will be glad.
Jesus Christ Is God
Jesus calls Himself "the Alpha and the Omega." The first letter of the
Greek alphabet is "alpha." The last letter is "omega." Thus,
Jesus is the first and last: He is eternal. "But to the Son He [God] says:
`Your throne, O God, is forever and ever' " (Hebrews 1:8a).
John Shared in Persecution
The apostle John had been banished to a small island called Patmos because of
his testimony for Jesus Christ. "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12). The closer we come
to the end of the age, the more persecution will come to true followers of
Jesus.
Earlier John had written Jesus' words: "If the world hates you, you
know that it hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18). "Yes, the
time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God
service" (John 16:2b). "In the world you will have tribulation; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b).
LESSON 2. JOHN SEES THE GLORIFIED CHRIST
Revelation 1:12-20 12
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw
seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like
the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the
chest with a golden band. 14 His head and His hair were white like wool, as
white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine
brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16
He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged
sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when
I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying
to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who
lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the
keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the
things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The
mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden
lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven
lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
Something to Do
Write or print your answer to each question. Look for the answers in the Bible
passage above. The number after each question refers to the verse number in the
Bible lesson where the answer is found. Check your answers by referring to
the list of answers inside the back cover.
1. One like the Son of Man was in the middle of the ____________ golden
lampstands (verse 13). These golden lampstands were the seven ________________
(verse 20). [Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation contain letters Jesus dictated to
these seven churches.]
2. The One like the Son of Man was clothed with a garment down to the
___________, and girded about the chest with a _______________ band (verse 13).
[This clothing shows the divine royalty and the priesthood of Jesus.]
3. His head and hair were _______________ like wool, as white as ______________
(14).
[When Daniel saw a vision of God (described in Daniel 7:9), he said
"the hair of His head was like pure wool." He called this awesome
Being "the Ancient of Days," indicating that God is eternal. Here in
Revelation, John's vision of Jesus, the Son of Man, shows that Jesus is the
Eternal One. In Micah 5:2, the prophet described the One coming out of Bethlehem
to be ruler in Israel as One "whose goings forth have been from of old,
from everlasting." Jesus was God appearing as man.]
4. His eyes were like a ___________ of __________(14). [The eyes of the Lord see
and search out everything. "The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). "The eyes of
the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" (Psalm
34:15).]
5. His feet were like fine ___________, as if refined in a furnace (15). [The
brass feet
speak of judgment. In Old Testament times the bronze altar, where
animals were sacrificed, was the place where sin was judged.]
6. His voice was as the sound of many __________ (15).
[ "The voice of the
LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over many
waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful" (Psalm 29:3, 4a).]
7. He had in His right hand seven __________ (16). The seven stars are the
__________ of the seven churches (20). [ "Those who are wise shall shine
like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness
like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3). Jesus holds His servants as
stars in His hand. They are witnesses in this dark world.]
8. Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged __________ (16).
[God's Word comes
from the mouth of Jesus. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and
spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God judges us.]
9. His countenance was like the __________ shining in its strength (16). [One of
the
names for Jesus is "Sun of righteousness." "But to you who
fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His
wings" (Malachi 4:2a).
Once while Jesus lived on earth, He was transfigured
before three of His disciples, and His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2).]
10. When John saw the Son of Man, he fell at His feet as ___________ (17).
[Of
Jesus' twelve disciples, the apostle John had been closest to Jesus when He was
on earth. But the sight of the glorified Christ was too much for him. The Lord
Jesus is worthy of deep reverence. But Jesus told him not to be afraid.]
11. Jesus said that He had the keys of ___________ (hell) and of __________
(18). [Once Jesus had said to Peter that not even the gates of hell would stop
Him from building His Church (Matthew 16:18).]
12. John was told to write three things (19):
(a) "the things which you have __________" (in the past).
(b) "the things which ___________" (in the present).
(c) "the things which will take place _________ _______" (in the
future).
Jesus Is Alive Forever
Jesus had been killed by crucifixion for our sins according to God's plan.
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself
likewise shared in the same, that through death He [Jesus] might destroy him who
had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear
of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14, 15).
But three days later Jesus rose from the grave, victorious over death. Jesus
said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he
may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never
die" (John 11:25b, 26a). "Because I live, you will live also"
(John 14:19b). Praise God!
LESSON 3. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
Revelation 2:1-7
1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, `These things says He who
holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven
golden lampstands: 2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and
that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they
are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered
and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become
weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first
love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first
works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its
place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the
tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' "
Jesus Examines Each Church
Jesus walks in the middle of seven churches of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey),
examining their spiritual condition with eyes of fire. "For the time has
come for judgment to begin at the house of God" (1 Peter 4:17a). Jesus
judges the Church before He judges the world.
A church may be praised by men or despised by men. That does not matter. What
matters is: What does Christ think of each church? To each church, Jesus says,
"I know your works."
What would Christ say about your church today? These letters to the churches
give us much food for thought.
Jesus' message to each church is addressed to the "angel" of the
church. The word for "angel" also means "messenger." It
could refer to the leader of the church. In each message Jesus chooses a
description of Himself that has special meaning for that church. Most of the
letters commend virtues of the church. All but two letters also contain rebukes.
Each letter contains a special promise to "overcomers" or true
believers in the church. May each of us be overcomers by God's grace. "Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). "For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has
overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4). "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" (Revelation 12:11).
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with the correct missing word.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says He who holds the seven
___________ in His right hand" (verse 1). [How wonderful to be held in
God's right hand! "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).]
2. Commendation: "I know your works, your __________, your
__________________, and that you cannot bear those who are ________" (2).
"You ________ the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate" (6).
[The word "Nicolaitans" means "conquer the people." Perhaps
too great a separation was being made between the clergy and the laity (common
believers). "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as
overseers, not . . . as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2, 3).]
3. Rebuke: "I have this against you, that you have left your
__________ __________" (4). [Zealous activity, good works, and keeping
sound doctrine can never take the place of our love relationship with Jesus
Himself.]
4. Promise to overcomers: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat
from the _________ of ___________, which is in the midst of the
_________________ of God" (7). [How wonderful to spend eternity in the
presence of God!]
Ephesus: The Church Which Left Its First Love
Ephesus was a major city of Greek culture and pagan idolatry. It contained one
of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the temple of the goddess Diana (Acts
19:35). Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos had worked in this city, and Paul had
once taught there for three years. The book of Ephesians is Paul's letter to the
church in Ephesus. Later the apostle John ministered in Ephesus for thirty
years.
When Love Grows Cold
The church at Ephesus seemed to be on fire for the Lord. They were busy about
their service to God. They stood strong in defending the truths of God's Word.
But Jesus saw that something was missing. They had left their first love for
Him. Serving God can never take the place of loving God. Do you remember Martha?
She was distracted with much serving, while her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet,
listening to His words. Jesus said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are
worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has
chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke
10:41b, 42).
What is your first love? What can you do if you discover your love for
Christ has grown cold? Jesus tells us what to do:
1. Remember from where you have fallen. Jesus once told a parable about a
son who wasted his inheritance in wrong living. "But when he came to
himself, he said, `How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and
to spare, and I perish with hunger!' " (Luke 15:17).
2. Repent. The prodigal son in Jesus' parable decided to forsake his
wrong ways and
returnto his father. "I will arise and go to my father,
and will say to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you'
" (Luke 15:18).
3. Do the first works. "And he arose and
came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him
and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him" (Luke
15:20).
Maintaining a close relationship with Christ should be our first priority in
life. If you leave your first love for Christ, Jesus says He will "remove
your lampstand from its place." A church or an individual can lose the
ability to be a light or a witness. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he
is cast out as a branch and is withered" (John 15:6a).
Jesus Wants Us to Listen
Jesus repeats these words to each church: "He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches." When we really hear God's
Word, we are like good ground receiving seed. "But he who received seed
on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears
fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty"
(Matthew 13:23).
LESSON 4. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA
Revelation 2:8-11
8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, `These things says the
First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 9 "I know your works,
tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those
who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear
any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to
throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have
tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." ' "
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from the
Scripture above.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says the ________
and the ____________, who was __________ and came to _____________" (verse
8). [For a church suffering great persecution and martyrdom, what a comfort it
must have been to have a message from the resurrected Christ, who had conquered
death!]
2. Commendation: "I know your works, ______________, and
______________ (but you are __________)" (9). [The one who lays up treasure
for himself is not rich toward God (Luke 12:21). "Listen, my beloved
brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and
heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James
2:5).]
3. Rebuke: None. [Persecution often purifies a church. Jesus found no
fault with this persecuted church.]
4. Promise to overcomers: "He who
overcomes shall not be ________ by the second ____________" (11). [The
second death is the lake of fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, into
which the unsaved are thrown (Revelation 20:14).]
Smyrna: The Persecuted Church
The word "Smyrna" refers to "myrhh," a plant which must be
crushed to give out its
fragrance. The Roman laws against Christianity were
strongly enforced. The persecution of believers in Asia seemed to center in
Smyrna. Polycarp, friend of the apostle John, was burned to death there.
The
early Church went through ten periods of persecution under various Roman
emperors. It is thought that about five million believers were killed. The last
period under Diocletian lasted ten years. Believers were hunted down in caves
and forests. They were burned, thrown to wild beasts, and put to death by all
kinds of torture. But Diocletian's own wife and daughter accepted Christ. The
persecuted Church spread forth a sweet fragrance to God. "Now thanks be to
God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the
fragrance of His knowledge in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Do Not
Fear Persecution
While He lived on earth, Jesus said to His disciples, "If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they
will keep yours also" (John 15:20b). Persecution comes in many forms:
slander, ridicule, false accusations, discrimination, imprisonment, beatings,
death.
Persecution comes from Satan or man's sinful nature. Satan may use those
who call themselves brothers but really are children of the devil. "In this
the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not
practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his
brother" (1 John 3:10).
We need not fear persecution, because God is with
us. "So we may boldly say: `The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What
can man do to me?' " (Hebrews 13:6). What a wonderful promise Jesus gives
to those who are faithful even to the point of death! He will give them the
crown of life—eternal life with Him. Jesus also was faithful to the point of
death. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
Others
around you may fall away because of persecution. Jesus once explained, "But
he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and
immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures
only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the
word, immediately he stumbles" (Matthew 13:20, 21). We need to be deeply
rooted in the Word of God and learn to trust Him in every circumstance. His
grace is sufficient for every time of need.
LESSON 5. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS
Revelation
2:12-17
12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, `These things
says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "I know your works, and where
you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not
deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was
killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you,
because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak
to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed
to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will
come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who
overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a
white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him
who receives it." ' "
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from
Scripture.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says He who has the
____________ two-edged _____________" (verse 12). [The Word of God was
especially needed because of the false doctrine that had crept into the church.]
2. Commendation: "You hold fast to My ______________, and did not ________
My faith" (13). [Though Antipas was martyred there, the church was
faithful.]
3. Rebuke: "You have there those who hold the doctrine of
___________" (14). "You also have those who hold the doctrine of the
__________________, which thing I hate" (15).
[Balaam was a prophet who was
hired by an enemy-king to curse Israel. Although God did not allow him to do so,
he subtly incited the people of Israel to commit sexual immorality and worship
idols (Numbers chapters 22-25). "They have a heart trained in covetous
practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone
astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:14b, 15). This church, like Balaam, taught
doctrines that led Christians into idolatry and adultery. In Lesson 3 the church
in Ephesus hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The church at Pergamos accepted
their doctrine.]
4. Promise to overcomers: "To him who overcomes I will
give some of the hidden ___________ to eat. And I will give him a _________
stone, and on the stone a new _________ written" (17). [In Old Testament
times God sent manna (a wafer-like food) from heaven to feed the Israelites in
the wilderness. Jesus likened Himself to that miraculous bread. "I am the
bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me
shall never thirst" (John 6:35b).
A white stone was used in ancient days to
cast a vote of approval or acquittal ("not guilty"). Receiving a white
stone and a new name from Christ signifies acceptance and approval by God.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death" (Romans 8:1, 2).]
Pergamos: The Worldly Church
The word
"Pergamos" means "married." The church in Pergamos was in
close alliance with the world. The city was called "Satan's throne"
because of the Babylonian mystery cults that had their headquarters there. Jesus
told this church to repent, or He would come quickly and fight them with the
sword of His mouth, the Word of God. Only the Word of God can combat false
doctrine. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Paul commended the church at Berea because they
"searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were
so" (Acts 17:11b). Are you searching the Scripture daily so that you will
not be deceived by false teaching?
LESSON 6. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA
Revelation
2:18-29
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, `These things
says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine
brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and
as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a
few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself
a prophetess, to teach and beguile My servants to commit sexual immorality and
to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her
sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a
sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless
they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death. And all
the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I
will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 But to you I say, and
to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not
known the depths of Satan, as they call them, I will put on you no other burden.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps
My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—27 `He shall
rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter's vessels shall be broken to pieces'—as
I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '
"
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from
Scripture.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says the Son of _______,
who has _________ like a flame of fire, and His _________ like fine brass"
(verse 18). [The Savior's searching eyes discern evil. His feet stamp out evil
with judgment.]
2. Commendation: "I know your works, ______________,
_____________, __________, and your _______________; and as for your works, the
last are more than the ____________" (19).
3. Rebuke: "You allow that
woman ______________, who calls herself a ___________________, to teach and
beguile My servants to commit sexual ____________________ and eat things
sacrificed to _________" (20). [Idolatry and immorality usually go
together. Both picture unfaithfulness to God.]
4. Promise to overcomers:
"He who overcomes, and ________________ My works until the end, to him I
will give ____________ over the _____________" (26). "I will give him
the morning ___________" (28). [The saints will reign in Christ's kingdom.
"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12a). In
Revelation 22:16 Jesus describes Himself as the "Bright and Morning
Star." "We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do
well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19).]
Thyatira: The Church of the False Prophetess
Thyatira was the
hometown of the apostle Paul's first convert in Europe. "Now a certain
woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of
Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken
by Paul" (Acts 16:14). Thyatira was famous for its female-dominated dye and
cloth industry. The church there seemed to be tolerating a false prophetess whom
Jesus refered to as Jezebel. She was leading the church into false doctrine and
evil acts just as wicked Queen Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, had led Israel astray
to worship Baal and had persecuted the servants of God (1 Kings 16:29-33 and 1
Kings 18:13).
The teachings of Jezebel are described as "the depths of
Satan." Jesus had given this prophetess time to repent, but she had not.
Now she was to be judged. The faithful who did not follow her teachings are told
to hold fast till Jesus comes.
"But know this, that in the last days
perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of
good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of
God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn
away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of
gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning
and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
Jesus says He will give to each one according to his works. For this church it
meant great tribulation and the death of their children. We need to take the
warnings of God's Word very seriously.
Jesus Knows Those Who Are His 
"I am
the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own" (John
10:14). "But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him" (1
Corinthians 8:3). "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having
this seal: `The Lord knows those who are His,' and, `Let everyone who names the
name of Christ depart from iniquity' " (2 Timothy 2:19).
LESSON 7. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN SARDIS
Revelation
3:1-6
1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, `These things says
He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your
works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful,
and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not
found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received
and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come
upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You
have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they
shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be
clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of
Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '
"
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from
Scripture.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says He who has the
___________ Spirits of God and the __________ stars" (verse 1).
[Isaiah
spoke of the seven-fold Spirit of God which would rest on Jesus. "The
Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD" (Isaiah 11:2).]
2. Commendation: "You have a few _____________
even in Sardis who have not _____________ their garments" (4).
[Only a few
in this church were living holy lives.]
3. Rebuke: "I know your works, that
you have a name that you are __________, but you are ___________" (1).
"I have not found your works _____________ before God" (2).
[The
church in Sardis had a reputation that it was alive, but in God's sight it was
dead. Jesus calls us to be perfect—to be mature in Christ-like attitudes
because God's Spirit lives in us. "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as
your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). "But let patience
have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
nothing" (James 1:4).]
4. Promise to overcomers: "He who overcomes
shall be clothed in ___________ garments, and I will not _________ out his name
from the ___________ of _________; but I will ______________ his name before My
Father and before His angels" (5).
["Fine linen" is the righteous
acts of saints (Revelation 19:8)— "the righteousness which is from God by
faith" (Philippians 3:9b). "Whoever confesses Me before men, him the
Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8b).]
Sardis: The Dead Church
The patron deity of Sardis was
supposed to have power to restore the dead. How sad that the church in this city
was dead! Life comes only through Jesus Christ.
The church in Sardis was
challenged to remember what they had received and heard, to hold it fast, and
repent. "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have
learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that
from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy
3:13-15). We need to study the Scriptures daily and memorize them. "Your
word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm
119:11). "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he
meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2). God's Word can keep us from sin.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
"Sardis" means "remnant." Praise God that even here there
were a few who in God's sight were not defiled. "Blessed are the undefiled
in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD!" (Psalm 119:1). What defiles a
person? "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil
things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:21-23). "Pursue
peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of
bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled"
(Hebrews 12:14, 15).
Jesus Will Come as a Thief to Some
Jesus urges us to watch,
so we will be alert to the time of His return. For those who are not watching,
He will come as a thief in the night—very unexpectedly. But Christians will
not be taken unaware. "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of
the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. . . . And they shall not escape. But
you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a
thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. . . . Therefore let us not
sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thessalonians 5:2,
3b-6).
LESSON 8. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7-13
7"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
`These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of
David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 8 I know
your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for
you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9
Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and
are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet,
and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to
persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the
whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly!
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I
will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And
I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the
New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on
him My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches." ' "
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from
Scripture.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says He who is
_________, He who is ________, He who has the _______ of David, He who _________
and no one ___________, and __________ and no one ___________" (verse 7).
[Jesus was holy. "And you know that He was manifested to take away our
sins, and in Him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5). Jesus was true. "We
are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and
eternal life" (1 John 5:20b). The treasurer of David's house bore the key
of David. "The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he
shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall
open" (Isaiah 22:22). Jesus, the son of David, has kingly authority.]
2. Commendation: "You have a little ________________, have kept My _______,
and have not _________ My name" (8). "You have kept My command to
__________________" (10).
[Those who keep Christ's words have a special
relationship with Him. "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him"
(John 14:23b). How important it is not to deny Jesus! "But whoever denies
Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven"
(Matthew 10:33).]
3. Rebuke: None.
[Jesus did not rebuke their weakness.]
4.
Promise to overcomers: "He who overcomes, I will make him a ____________ in
the temple of My God, and he shall ___ _____ no more. I will write on him the
__________ of My God and the name of the _________ of My God. . . . And I will
write on him My _______ name" (12).
[Two special pillars were in the Old
Testament temple. "Then he set up the pillars by the vestibule of the
temple; he set up the pillar on the right and called its name Jachin [literally,
He Shall Establish], and he set up the pillar on the left and called its name
Boaz" [literally, In It Is Strength]" (1 Kings 7:21). The faithful
Christian, having stability and strength, will be given a place of service and
honor. God seals the believer with His Spirit as a sign of His ownership.
"Who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a
deposit" (2 Corinthians 1:22).]
Philadelphia: The Church of the Open Door
"Philadelphia" means "brotherly love." Jesus had a special
love for the people of this faithful church (verse 9). The church of
Philadelphia had doors of opportunity for Christian witness and missionary
outreach. Paul, in prison, once asked for prayer for a door of opportunity,
knowing God can open them. "Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would
open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am
also in chains" (Colossians 4:3).
Doors of opportunity and faithful service
can bring opposition. "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and
there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9). Satan will not stand idly
by while the work of God prospers. "The synagogue of Satan" included
sincere, misled, religious people used by Satan to oppose God's work. But Jesus
says He will cause them to know how loved these faithful Christians are.
"He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as
the noonday" (Psalm 37:6).
God always keeps His loved ones through trials.
He will spare believers from the judgment of wrath which will come upon
unbelievers, just as He delivered Noah and Lot before judgment fell. ". . .
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the
unjust under punishment for the day of judgment" (2 Peter 2:9). What God
Can Do Through Weakness When you are weak, you can look to God as your strength.
"We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us;
nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles
20:12b). Jesus wants us to abide in Him, because He knows that without Him we
can do nothing (John 15:5). "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God"
(2 Corinthians 3:5). "God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to
shame the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27b). "And He said
to me, `My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. . . . For when I am weak, then I am
strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10). This "weak" church was the
strongest and most loved church! "But those who wait on the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run
and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
Even
though we may have only a little strength, we know that God will not give us
more testing than we can bear. "No temptation has overtaken you except such
as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). He gives us
ALL that we need to be spiritually strong. "As His divine power has given
to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of
Him" (2 Peter 1:3a).
Only weak people know their utter dependence on God
for strength. God's people through faith ". . . out of weakness were made
strong" (Hebrews 11:34a). God Himself is the strength of His people.
"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my
portion forever" (Psalm 73:26).
LESSON 9. JESUS' LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF THE LAODICEANS
Revelation 3:14-22
14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write, `These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning
of the creation of God: 15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold
nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. 17 Because
you say, `I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not
know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel
you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white
garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be
revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come
in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will
grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My
Father on His throne.
22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches." ' "
Something to Do
A. Fill in the blank spaces with words from
Scripture.
1. Description of Christ: "These things says the ________, the
____________ and ________ Witness, the Beginning of the ______________ of
God" (verse 14).
["Amen" refers to something that is
"firm" and "trustworthy." As "the Amen," Jesus
establishes all God's promises. "For all the promises of God in Him are
Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Jesus is the origin and source of all creation. "He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were
created . . . . And He is before all things" (Colossians 1:15-17a). Jesus
is also head of the new creation (believers). "Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17a).]
2. Commendation:
None.
3. Rebuke: "I know your works, that you are neither _____ nor
______" (15). "Because you are __________________, I will _________
you out of My mouth" (16). "You say, `I am ___________, have become
_______________, and have need of ________________'—and do not know that you
are wretched, miserable, ____________, ______________, and _____________"
(17).
[These people were self-righteous and self-sufficient compared to
believers in Smyrna, who lived in poverty but were spiritually rich.]
4. Promise
to overcomers: "To him who overcomes I will grant to _______ with Me on My
___________, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne"
(21).
["Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name" (Psalm 91:14).
"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12a).
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give
you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).]
B. Write out and memorize: Revelation 3:20.
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
"Laodicea" means "rights of the
people" or "people ruling." It implies an extremely democratic
church that no longer follows the authority of spiritual leaders or the Word of
God.
Laodicea was located in a valley near Colosse and Hierapolis. The apostle
Paul told how Epaphras had a great zeal for the churches in these cities
(Colossians 4:12, 13). Hierapolis boasted hot waters known for their medicinal
qualities. Colosse was known for its cold, pure water. But Laodicea received
water by aqueduct. By the time water arrived at Laodicea, it was lukewarm and
provoked nausea. Jesus describes the church at Laodicea as lukewarm. The works
of the Laodicean church were as sickening to Jesus as the city's lukewarm water.
Though this church commended itself highly, Jesus has no words of commendation
for it.
The Dangers of Wealth
Apparently the church was caught up in the wealthy
spirit of Laodicea and did not know its desperate spiritual need.
Scripture
gives very serious warnings about the perils of wealth. "And having food
and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which
drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all
kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness" (1 Timothy 6:8-10a).
If you have wealth in this world, remember
that it is God who gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Do not set your
heart on it. Let God guide you in how to use it to help people in need and to
build God's kingdom. You will find joy and blessing. "For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).
How to Get Out
of Spiritual Poverty
The church in Laodicea was spiritually poor, blind, and
naked. But Jesus counsels them on what to do:
1. Buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.
(See a section below explaining each of these points.)
2. Buy from Me white garments, that you may be
clothed, that the shame
of your nakedness may not be revealed.
3. Anoint your eyes with eye salve, that
you may see. How appropriate these word-pictures are for a church in a city
famous for banking, cloth production, and eye medicine!
Through the prophet
Isaiah, God once invited Israel to "buy" spiritual food and drink, but
not for money. When we come to God and listen diligently to Him, we will have
spiritual plenty. "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you
who have no money, come, buy and eat. Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is
good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance" (Isaiah 55:1a, 2b).
(1) "Gold" Refined in the Fire
In God's sight, what is more precious
than gold? "That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious
than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise,
honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you
love" (1 Peter 1:7, 8a). Fiery trials of life test how genuine our faith is
and enrich us spiritually. This brings us joy and honors Christ.
(2) "White
Garments" to Hide Our Shame
What spiritual garments do we need? "I put
on righteousness, and it clothed me" (Job 29:14a). Jesus gives us salvation
and the robes of His righteousness.
When Joshua, a high priest in Old Testament
times, was opposed by Satan, God rebuked Satan and called Joshua a "brand
plucked from the fire." "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments,
and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood
before Him, saying, `Take away the filthy garments from him.' And to him He
said, `See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with
rich robes' " (Zechariah 3:3-4). God removes our filthy garments of sin and
gives us the rich, beautiful robes of His righteousness. What a wonderful gift
of His grace! We cannot think that our own righteousness is a fit covering. Only
Christ can fulfill in us the righteousness God demands. "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus
3:5).
How can we receive His righteousness? ". . . If you confess with your
mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and
with the mouth confession is made to salvation" (Romans 10:9, 10). We
receive Christ's righteousness by believing on Him, by receiving Him into our
hearts. He died for us and was raised to new life, so that we also might be dead
to sin and alive to righteousness (Romans 6:10, 11).
(3) "Eyesalve"
that Brings Sight
When Jesus was on earth, He restored sight to blind men. Jesus
came also to restore spiritual sight to those who are spiritually blind.
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light
of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on
them" (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4). As sinners, we walk in darkness. "But he
who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness" (1 John 2:11a).
But when Christ comes into our hearts, darkness is turned to light, and we can
see clearly. "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk
in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12b).
Jesus Chastens Those
He Loves
Has Jesus ever rebuked you or chastened you? He does this because He
loves you. "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest
His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in
whom he delights" (Proverbs 3:11, 12). "But when we are judged, we are
chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world" (1
Corinthians 11:32). Our heavenly Father disciplines us in love "for our
profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10b). Thank
God for His tender correction and chastening in love!
Listen to What the Spirit
Says
When Jesus was on earth, He left a promise with His disciples:
"But
the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to
you" (John 14:26). Jesus promised that His followers would know the Holy
Spirit, because not only would the Spirit be with them, He would also live
in
them (John 14:17). When the Holy Spirit lives in you, He will convict you of sin
and He will comfort you in trials. "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit
of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9b).
Perhaps you are like some of the
Laodiceans, and this lesson has made you realize that you are spiritually poor,
blind, and naked. You realize that the Holy Spirit of God does NOT live in you.
But you long for spiritual riches of faith, for spiritual sight, for the
clothing of Christ's righteousness. You long to be a new creation, with Christ
living in you.
Is this the desire of your heart? Then this letter from Jesus has
good news for you. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with
him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). He stands at the door of your
heart, knocking. He wants to experience fellowship and friendship with you. Will
you open the door of your heart right now? Just ask Him to come in. If you need
help to pray, this prayer can guide you. What joy and peace will be yours!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for dying on the cross to take away
my sins. I confess I am a sinner. I am sorry for the wrong things I have done. I
ask Your forgiveness. Create in me a clean heart and grant me, Lord, Your
righteousness. I receive You, Jesus, into my heart to be my Savior and Lord. In
Jesus' name, Amen.
LESSON 10. JOHN IS CAUGHT UP TO THE THRONE OF GOD
Revelation
4:1-11
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place
after this." 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in
heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and
a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in
appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on
the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they
had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings,
thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea
of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne,
were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living
creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third
living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a
flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full
of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits
on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down
before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever,
and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O
Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by
Your will they exist and were created."
The Throne of God
"The LORD
has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all"
(Psalm 103:19). What a comfort! How wonderful to see that a rainbow encircles
the throne! After God sent the flood of judgment upon the wicked earth in Noah's
time, He set a rainbow in the clouds as a sign of mercy. "It shall be, when
I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and
I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living
creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy
all flesh" (Genesis 9:14, 15). God remembers! Even in wrath God remembers
mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).
The 24 elders sit on thrones, representatives of the
redeemed, having white robes and crowns (rewards)—made kings and priests to
reign on the earth (Revelation 5:9, 10).
The four living creatures who declare
God's holiness day and night were seen also by the prophet Ezekiel. He
identified them as cherubim—angelic beings (Ezekiel 10:20).
The scene here is
similar to the Old Testament temple (which was but a copy of the true heavenly
temple). The seven lamps before the throne of God correspond to the
seven-branched lampstand. The sea of glass corresponds to the laver (basin for
washing).
The throne corresponds to the ark of the covenant where God's presence
was. The 24 elders correspond to the 24 priests who took turns serving in the
temple. Even the living creatures correspond to the cherubim arching over the
mercy seat.
These heavenly worshippers cast their crowns before God, who is
worthy of all praise because He is the Creator of all things. God is worthy of
our service to Him. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
LESSON 11. THE SEALED SCROLL
Revelation 5:1-14
1 And I saw in
the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the
back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a
loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the
scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to
open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me,
"Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I
looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures,
and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all
the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they
sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open
its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of
every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and have made us kings and
priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked, and
I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and
the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb
who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and
glory and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the
earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them,
I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits
on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living
creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and
worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?
The
scroll was rolled up and firmly sealed with seven seals. According to Roman law,
all legal documents pertaining to life and death were sealed seven times.
What
is so important about this scroll? Many Bible scholars believe that it is the
legal title deed to the earth. Since Adam sinned, all creation was under bondage
to sin, Satan, and death. No one in Adam's race could now claim their
inheritance. No man was found who was worthy to loose the seals. John wept. Who
could remove the curse placed on this earth? Thanks be to God! All weeping ends
when the rightful ruler of this universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, appears to
loose the seals and to claim the inheritance.
In the Hebrew system of owning
land, only a near relative could redeem (buy back) land lost by the original
owner. The story of Ruth is based on this law. Jesus—our Kinsman-Redeemer—by
His own blood redeemed us back to God. God's Son was "appointed heir of all
things . . ." (Hebrews 1:2b). He was the only One who could set creation
free!
Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Jesus was from the tribe of Judah,
described as a lion and associated with the kingly
line. "Judah is a lion's
whelp . . . . The scepter shall not depart from Judah" (Genesis 49:9a,
10a). As the Lion of Judah, Jesus has prevailed (conquered) and reigns.
Before
Jesus was born, the virgin Mary (of the house of David) was told by the angel
Gabriel: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son,
and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of
the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And
. . . of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:31-33).
Jesus, the Slain Lamb
When John looked for the Lion, there
stood a Lamb as though it had been slain. The Lion was the Lamb! The word
"slain" used here specifically means "slaughtered, as an animal
for sacrifice." The Lamb had died for the sins of the world. John the
Baptist had introduced Jesus at the River Jordan by saying, "Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b).
Jesus'
death and resurrection prove that He is worthy to reign over all creation, to
open the book, to judge the world. The prophets had foretold both Christ's
sufferings and the glories which would follow (1 Peter 1:11). Jesus was to be
both the suffering Lamb and the kingly Lion. "He was oppressed and He was
afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth"
(Isaiah 53:7). Now the triumphant Lamb is all-powerful (possessing seven horns,
referring to power and authority) and all-knowing (having seven eyes, referring
to perfect wisdom).
As followers of Jesus we, too, can expect suffering before
glory. "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which
is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the
extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed,
you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:12, 13).
All Creation
Sings Praise to God
The theme song is "Worthy Is the Lamb!" On earth
the Lamb was despised and rejected. But now He receives His rightful praise.
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of
God" (2 Corinthians 13:4a). As a Lamb He was obedient even to death on a
cross. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name
which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). All creation will one day bow before Him. May
we bow to Him as Lord of our lives now!
When Jesus reigns in our hearts, we have
new joy and grateful praise for our Savior and Redeemer. "Oh, sing to the
LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth" (Psalm 96:1). "Oh,
sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things" (Psalm
98:1). Do you sing praise to the Lord? "I will call upon the LORD, who is
worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
LESSON 12. THE LAMB OPENS THE FIRST SIX SEALS
Revelation 6:1-17
1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the
seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like
thunder, "Come and see." 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse.
And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out
conquering and to conquer.
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second
living creature saying, "Come and see." 4 And another horse, fiery
red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from
the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a
great sword.
5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature
say, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he
who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the
midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a
denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and
the wine."
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." 8 And I looked, and
behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades
followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to
kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
9 When
He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they
cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until
You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 11 And a
white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should
rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and
their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
12 I looked
when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the
sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And
the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it
is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is
rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the
kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men,
every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of
the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide
us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Something to Do
Fill in the blank spaces with words from Scripture.
1. The first
seal was opened and the horse which John saw was a _______________ horse (verse
2). He who sat on it had a ____________. A ______________ was given to him. He
went out conquering and to conquer.
2. The second seal revealed a horse that was
fiery ___________ (4). Power was given to the rider of the horse to take
___________ from the earth. A great ____________ was given to him.
3. The third
seal was opened and John saw a ____________ horse (5). He who sat on it had a
pair of _______________ in his hand.
4. The fourth seal revealed a __________
horse (8). The name of the one who sat on it was __________ followed by
________. Power was given them to kill with ___________, with _______________,
with _______________, and by the ______________ of the earth (8).
5. The fifth
seal was opened and John saw under the ___________ the ______________ of those
who had been martyred (9). They had been slain (killed) for what reasons?
(a) __________________________________________
(b)__________________________________________
6. The sixth seal signaled the
coming of the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. What seven things happened?
(a) There was a great ___________________ (verse 12).
(b) The sun became
_________ as sackcloth of hair (12).
(c) The moon became like ____________ (12).
(d) The stars of heaven _____________ to the earth (13).
(e) The sky
________________ as a scroll rolled up (14).
(f) Every _________________ and
____________ moved out of place (14).
(g) All the men of the earth, both small
and great, _______ themselves and cried to the mountains and rocks to fall on
them to _________ them from the ___________ of Him who sits on the __________
and from the __________ of the Lamb (15 and 16).
The First Seal: Rider on a
White Horse
Some interpret this as a picture of Christ and His Church spreading
the gospel throughout the earth in a great missionary thrust. Certainly Christ
is seen wearing a crown as He reaps the harvest in Revelation 14:14. He returns
to earth in final judgment with His saints, riding on a white horse (Revelation
19:11). He goes forth conquering and to conquer strongholds of Satan. "I
will build My church, and the gates of Hades [hell] shall not prevail against
it" (Matthew 16:18b). "Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
Others interpret this
rider as a counterfeit Christ, the spirit of Antichrist, conquering the world
through diplomatic, peaceful means (he has a bow but no arrows), bringing false
peace. "For when they say, `Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction
comes upon them" (1 Thessalonians 5:3a).
Jesus warned of such a time:
"Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying,
`I am the Christ,' and will deceive many" (Matthew 24:4b, 5). "For
false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so
as to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew 24:24).
The Second Seal: Rider on a Red Horse
A time of wars and
threats of war takes peace from the earth. " `There is no peace,' says my
God, `for the wicked' " (Isaiah 57:21). "And you will hear of wars and
rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to
pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6).
The Third Seal: Rider on a Black Horse
War often leads to
famine. This rider holds a set of scales, indicating economic control. Food is
so scarce that it takes a day's wages to buy one quart of wheat. Yet the oil and
wine, products for the rich, are not touched.
Jesus prophesied this: "For
nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be
famines" (Matthew 24:7a). Already millions have died from famine through
civil wars in black Africa.
The Fourth Seal: Rider on a Pale Horse
Death
(claiming bodies in physical death) and Hell (claiming souls in spiritual death)
have power to kill one fourth of the earth with: (1) sword (violence and war);
(2) hunger (famine and poverty); (3) death (pestilence, incurable diseases, and
natural disasters); and (4) beasts of the earth. This could refer to nature
taking over because of world chaos. Or it could be through germ warfare or
animals carrying disease. Rats have caused more people to die than all the wars
in history. In the 14th century, the fleas from rats killed a third of Europe's
population with bubonic plague.
Jesus warned of this: "And there will be .
. . pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning
of sorrows" (Matthew 24:7b, 8).
The Fifth Seal: Martyred Saints Revealed
We hear a cry from
martyred saints as to how long it would be before God would judge the world. It
would be only a little longer, after the martyrdom was complete. Jesus foretold
this as well: "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you,
and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be
offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false
prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the
love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all
the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:9-14). At a time when
the gospel is being preached throughout all the world, Christians will be dying
for their faith in unprecedented numbers.
Christians must expect to face
tribulation and death. In the 20th century more Christians were killed for their
faith in Christ than in all preceding centuries combined. Some of you reading
this Bible study are facing persecution and perhaps will face death. Jesus
promises to be with you always. He tells us what our attitude should be to those
who persecute us. "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use
you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). However, He will come to judge those
enemies and to answer prayers for deliverance. "Rise up, O Judge of the
earth; render punishment to the proud. LORD, . . . how long will the wicked
triumph? . . . They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, and afflict Your
heritage" (Psalm 94:2-5).
Promises to the Persecuted
Jesus' disciples had a
wonderful attitude toward persecution. "So they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His
name" (Acts 5:41).
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness'
sake, you are blessed. `And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled'
" (1 Peter 3:14). "If you are reproached for the name of Christ,
blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (1
Peter 4:14a).
These words of Jesus are for you: "Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against
you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your
reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you"
(Matthew 5:10-12).
The Sixth Seal: The Wrath of the Lamb Has Come
The opening of
the sixth seal brings frightening disturbances on earth and in the heavens.
Jesus spoke of these things beforehand: "Immediately after the tribulation
of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:29-31). "And I will
show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of
smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD" (Joel 2:30, 31).
Apparently the people of earth know the day of wrath has come. They want to be
hidden from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the
Lamb! Jesus' first coming had been to proclaim "the acceptable year of the
LORD," but now we see "the day of vengeance of our God" has come
(Isaiah 61:2). Could they actually see this "sign of the Son of Man"
in the clouds, causing the tribes of the earth to mourn because they had
rejected Him? Will this be the time when Israel will recognize her Messiah?
"Then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him
as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a
firstborn" (Zechariah 12:10).
Scripture describes this fearful time when
the wrath of God is poured out on the earth as "The Day of the Lord."
"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He
appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap" (Malachi
3:2).
We can avoid God's wrath by repenting of our sins now and by believing in
Jesus. "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does
not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him"
(John 3:36). Only the blood of the righteous Lamb can protect from the wrath of
the Lamb.
What About the Rapture of the Church?
Praise God that true children of
God—the redeemed—are saved from wrath! "But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much
more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him" (Romans 5:8, 9). God has designed a wonderful plan for
believers. They will be "caught up" to meet Christ in the air! This
being "caught up in the clouds" is called the "Rapture"
(from the Latin translation of this phrase).
When will this happen? Some believe
it happens at this time, just before the wrath of God is poured out on the
world. Others believe it happens earlier; a few believe it is later and that
Christians will be specially protected during this time. This question should
not divide Christians who believe the Bible. We can agree on one thing: It will
happen!
God has given us some wonderful details about the Rapture (or
"catching up") of the Church. "For the Lord Himself will descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet
of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).
As
we wait to be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the clouds, let us build
up one another in faith and love, praising our Lord that we are saved from His
wrath. Let us spread the good news of His salvation far and wide!
LESSON 13. THE 144,000 SERVANTS OF GOD ARE SEALED
Revelation
7:1-8
1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the
earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the
earth, on the sea, or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the
east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the
four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying,
"Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the
servants of our God on their foreheads." 4 And I heard the number of those
who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the
children of Israel were sealed: 5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were
sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad
twelve thousand were sealed; 6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were
sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of
Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; 7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand
were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of
Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; 8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand
were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of
Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
The Sealed Remnant of Israel
Twelve
thousand from each of twelve Jewish tribes are sealed to show God's ownership
and protection. They are on earth, possibly to be powerful witnesses for God.
Today true believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit. "In whom also, having
believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the
praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13b, 14).
LESSON 14. A GREAT MULTITUDE STANDS BEFORE THE THRONE
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude
which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with
palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the
Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the
four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped
God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and
honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
13 Then
one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white
robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you
know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great
tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb. 15 Therefore they are be-
fore the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His
temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall
neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor
any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them
and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes."
Something to Do
As you fill in the blanks, think about
the truth of Romans 8:18: "For I consider that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us."
1. This multitude, which no one could number, was of all
__________, ___________, peoples, and ___________ (9). [Some from every nation
and language will receive salvation.]
2. These that came out of great
tribulation had _________ their robes and made them white in the __________ of
the Lamb (14).
[They were righteous before God.]
3. The One on the throne will ________ among them (15).
[
"I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people"
(Leviticus 26:12).]
4. They shall not __________ anymore or ________ (16).
[
"They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike
them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water
He will guide them" (Isaiah 49:10).]
5. The ______ shall not strike them,
nor any ______ (16).
[ "The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun
shall not strike you by day" (Psalm 121:5b, 6a).]
6. The Lamb in the midst
of the throne will ____________ them and lead them to living ______________ of
water (17).
[ "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to
lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters" (Psalm
23:1, 2).]
7. God will wipe away every _______ from their eyes (17).
[ "He
will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all
faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the
LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 25:8).]
LESSON 15. THE LAMB OPENS THE SEVENTH SEAL
Revelation 8:1-5
1
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an
hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given
seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at
the altar. And he was given much incense, that he should offer it with the
prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4
And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before
God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire
from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings,
lightnings, and an earthquake.
The Seventh Seal: Silence Before Judgments
When
the Lamb opens the seventh seal, there is awesome silence in heaven. We feel the
impending awfulness of the seven trumpet judgments to come. "Be silent, all
flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!"
(Zechariah 2:13). The entire scroll is now open. The fire thrown down to earth
tells us of the wrath of God to be poured out. "For the day of vengeance is
in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come" (Isaiah 63:4).
God
Answers the Prayers of His People
In Old Testament times, God commanded Moses to
make an altar of incense for the tabernacle, symbolizing the prayers of God's
people rising to Him. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was
permitted to go into the inner sanctuary to meet with God where the mercy seat
was. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He opened the way to God.
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ
Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5, 6a). Now we each
have direct communication with God through Christ, our High Priest. "Let us
therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus invites us to pray.
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). "If you abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you"
(John 15:7).
LESSON 16. FOUR ANGELS SOUND THE FIRST FOUR TRUMPETS
Revelation 8:6-13
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared
themselves to sound.
7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed,
mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the trees
were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8 Then the second angel
sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into
the sea, and a third of the sea became blood; 9 and a third of the living
creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 Then the
third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch,
and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water; 11 and the
name of the star is Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and
many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
12 Then the fourth
angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a
third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened; and a third of the
day did not shine, and likewise the night.
13 And I looked, and I heard an angel
flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe,
woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the
trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!"
The Trumpet Judgments
Seven angels prepare to sound the seven trumpets, one by one. God had given
people a choice. "I have set before you life and death, blessing and
cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may
live" (Deuteronomy 30:19b). The inhabitants of the earth rejected Jesus,
who said, "I am . . . the Life" (John 14:6b). "But you denied the
Holy One and the Just . . . and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from
the dead" (Acts 3:14, 15a). Now those who live on the earth receive the
results of their choice. Will YOU choose life while you have opportunity?
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me
and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15b).
The First Four
Trumpets
These judgments remind us of the plagues sent on the land of Egypt when
God delivered the Israelites from slavery. Years later, the nation of Israel was
promised bitter water to drink because they had worshipped idols and followed
the imaginations of their hearts. "Behold, I will feed them, this people,
with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink" (Jeremiah 9:15b).
During the time of Israel's captivity, the prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of a
river of water which would in God's future kingdom flow to the sea and be healed
(Ezekiel 47:8).
The Announcement of the Three Woes
An angel gives a message that
the next three trumpet judgments will be worse. This message is given to the
"inhabitants of the earth." The word "inhabitants" indicates
"to reside, to be housed permanently." These people had settled down
on earth as their permanent home, rejecting Christ. The people of God, on the
other hand, consider themselves strangers and pilgrims on this earth (Hebrews
11:13). "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it
may be conformed to His glorious body" (Philippians 3:20, 21a).
Is your
citizenship in heaven? "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth"
(Colossians 3:2).
LESSON 17. THE FIFTH TRUMPET IS SOUNDED
(The First Woe)
Revelation 9:1-12
1 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from
heaven to the earth. And to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And
he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a
great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the
pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given
power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to
harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men
who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given
authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And their torment
was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men
will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will
flee from them.
7 And the shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for
battle; and on their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces
were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth
were like lions' teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron,
and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses
running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in
their tails. And their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as
king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon,
but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
12 One woe is past. Behold, still two
more woes are coming after these things.
Demonic Forces From the Bottomless Pit
Jesus once delivered a man who was possessed by many demons. These demons begged
not to be sent to the abyss where they belonged (Luke 8:31). Later Jesus
explained who this being was who had fallen from heaven and now was given the
key to the abyss, or bottomless pit. "I saw Satan fall like lightning from
heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt
you" (Luke 10:18b, 19). If you are a true believer, Jesus has given you
authority (in His name) over demons. They cannot harm you.
When demonic forces
are unleashed in the world as a judgment on an unbelieving world, there will be
no protection from the terrible torment they bring (except to those with the
seal of God on their foreheads). People will prefer death, but no one will be
able to die.
The leader of this evil horde is called Abaddon (Destruction) or
Apollyon (Destroyer). Never forget that Satan's real goal is to destroy you.
Jesus comes to give life. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may
have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). "Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:8, 9a). On your own
you are no match for Satan and his demons, but remember, "You are of God,
little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater
than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
Remember, if you are a child of God, none of these judgments will come on you. "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Romans 5:9). Praise God!
LESSON 18. THE SIXTH TRUMPET IS SOUNDED
(The Second Woe)
Revelation 9:13-21
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the
four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel
who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great
river Euphrates." 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour
and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the
number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million, and I heard the
number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on
them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the
heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came
fire, smoke, and brimstone. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was
killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their
mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails
are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm.
20 But the rest of
mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of
their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver,
brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did
not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or
their thefts.
"They Did Not Repent"
The River Euphrates flowed from
the garden of Eden, where evil entered the world (Genesis 2:10, 14). Now a
deadly army of 200,000,000 is released to kill one-third of mankind through the
plagues of their warfare. Those who were not killed did not repent of their
sinful deeds. "Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your
statutes" (Psalm 119:155).
Idol worship is total rejection of the true,
living God. In God's sight things sacrificed to idols are really being
sacrificed to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). "With abominations they
provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons, not to God" (Deuteronomy
32:16b, 17a).
"Sorceries" in the original Greek language of the New
Testament means "having to do with drugs." It is also associated with
witchcraft. It is not surprising that these sins are becoming more widespread in
our day. They are sins of the man who has not been filled with the Spirit of
God. "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell
you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
What
a contrast is the fruit produced by a child of God! "But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22,
23).
It is only by God's grace that men repent of their sins. "For godly
sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the
sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). True sorrow for
sin leads to repentance, a changed life, and eternal salvation. The world's
sorrow is merely regret for being caught in sin or regret for suffering the
consequences of sin. Because this kind of sorrow does not produce a changed
life, it leads to eternal death.
If God's Spirit convicts you of sin, repent now
while your heart is still tender. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do
not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7b, 8a). A time is coming when men's
hearts will be too hard to repent of their sins.
LESSON 19. THE SEVEN MYSTERIOUS THUNDERS
Revelation 10:1-11
1
And I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a
cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet
like pillars of fire. 2 And he had a little book open in his hand. And he set
his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud
voice, as when a lion roars. And when he cried out, seven thunders uttered their
voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to
write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things
which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."
5 And the angel
whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven 6
and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things
that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the
things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days
of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of
God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. 8 Then the
voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the
little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on
the earth."
9 And I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the
little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make
your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth."
10
And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as
sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.
11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations,
tongues, and kings."
The Angel and the Little Book
This mighty angel may be
the "Angel of the LORD," Jesus Christ, who at times appeared as an
Angel in Old Testament times and now has a glorified body. He is ready to claim
His inheritance. God once said to His Son, "Ask of Me, and I will give You
the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your
possession" (Psalm 2:8).
He sets His right foot on the sea and His left
foot on the land. This is the Biblical way of
claiming territory. To Joshua, God
said, "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given
you" (Joshua 1:3a).
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah roars as a lion does
when it is about to conquer its prey. Seven thunders utter their voices. John is
not permitted to write what he hears. This is the only message in the book of
Revelation which is sealed from our knowledge. But, praise God, enough is
revealed to us in Scripture for our salvation and victorious living. "The
secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed
belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this
law" (Deuteronomy 29:29). "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge
to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things" (Daniel
2:21b, 22a).
The seventh angel is about to sound the seventh trumpet judgment,
and when he does, the mystery of God, as declared to the prophets, will be
finished. Many scoff, thinking the Lord will never return. But He is giving men
today a chance to repent. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). One
day there will be no more delay, no more time to repent. "Behold, now is
the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians
6:2b). "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"
(Hebrews 2:3a).
Part of the mystery of God was that Gentiles (pagans) would be
invited to become fellow-heirs with Jews to inherit the promises of God
(Ephesians 3:4-6). "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This "mystery" has been openly
revealed through God's Word.
Why was the little book sweet to John's taste and
yet bitter to his stomach? Perhaps it indicates that God's Word is often a joy
to receive but painful to deliver. Perhaps it is because God's Word reveals the
sweetness of God's grace but also the bitterness of His judgment.
John needed to
eat the little book to make it part of his inner person. We need to do that with
God's Word. "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me
the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of
hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16). The Word of God is our food. Jesus said, "It
is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4b). Digesting the little book prepared
John for the messages he still needed to deliver to the world. We, too, need
God's Word to prepare us to be a witness to our world today.
The prophet Ezekiel
had a similar experience. "And He said to me, `Son of man, feed your belly,
and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.' So I ate it, and it was
in my mouth like honey in sweetness" (Ezekiel 3:3).
The prophet Jeremiah
was to deliver God's message to rebellious people. ". . . Speak to them all
that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces" (Jeremiah
1:17a). He was to deliver the message whether they heard it or whether they
refused to hear it. Let us be faithful witnesses to our generation as well,
giving out the message of God no matter what the response may be.
LESSON 20. THE TWO WITNESSES ARE KILLED AND RESURRECTED
Revelation 11:1-14
1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel
stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those
who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do
not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the
holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two
witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days,
clothed in sackcloth."
4 These are the two olive trees and the two
lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm
them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone
wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut
heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power
over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as
often as they desire. 7 Now when they finish their testimony, the beast that
ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and
kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city
which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead
bodies three and a half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into
graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry,
and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who
dwell on the earth.
11 Now after the three and a half days the breath of life
from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on
those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them,
"Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their
enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth
of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand men were killed, and the rest
were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe is past.
Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
The Temple Is Measured
The city of Jerusalem is overrun by the
Gentiles for 3 1/2 years under Antichrist rule. John is told to measure the
temple, the altar, and the worshippers. Measuring is a symbolic act that shows
possession. John is NOT to measure the outer court, which was the court of the
Gentiles.
Two Prophets Are God's Witnesses
The two witnesses wear sackcloth as a
sign of great distress over the spiritual condition of Israel. They are
described as the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before God.
This same description was given for Zerubbabel and Joshua, the governor and high
priest who rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity in
Babylon. At that time an angel said, "This is the word of the LORD to
Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of
hosts" (Zechariah 4:6b).
Who are these witnesses? Some say they are Elijah
and Enoch—Old Testament men who never died because God took them directly to
heaven. Others think they are Moses and Elijah because:
1. Like Moses in the Old
Testament, these witnesses have power to turn water into blood. Moses appeared
with Jesus and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3). Also,
Michael the archangel disputed with the devil over the body of Moses (Jude 9).
Did Satan want to prevent Moses from being this powerful witness at the end of
time?
2. Like the prophet Elijah, these witnesses have power to prevent rain for
3 1/2 years and also to bring down fire from heaven to destroy their enemies.
The prophet Malachi predicted, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD" (Malachi 4:5).
If the two witnesses are Moses and Elijah, they would symbolize the witness of
the Law (given through Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah was a great prophet).
"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is
through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe" (Romans 3:21,
22a).
These two witnesses are killed only when they finish their te