the drama of revelation

19 Pages·2017·0.21 MB·English

The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
WELCOME TO
THE DRAMA OF
REVELATION
A Study of The Book of REVELATION
SESSION VII –02/21/17
THE WORLD AT WAR
(CHAPTER 8)
The seven trumpets begin to sound and terrible calamities
follow. These judgments are so severe that the global fire
they ignite nearly destroys the whole planet. The whole
world is at war and all life is in danger of extinction.
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET
8:6 –9:21
When the seventh seal was opened, the scroll was ready
to be unrolled, read, and put into effect. At that moment,
heaven fell silent. Seven angels were given trumpets.
The prayers of the saints went up before God, and in
response, fire was cast upon the earth. The thunder of
judgment rumbled. With that warning, the trumpets are
blown.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
SEVEN TRUMPETS
First Trumpet: hail and fire (v. 7) Second Trumpet: Fireball into the sea
(v.8-9)
The results of this destruction are so vast “great mountain burning with fire” falling into
that one-third of all the trees and all the the sea, polluting one-thirdof the oceans and
grass on the entire planet burn up. destroying one-third of ships (military
Such a massive destruction of vegetation targets)
would result in food shortages and a
limited air supply.
ThirdTrumpet: pollution of fresh Fourth Trumpet: air pollution (v. 12)
waters (v. 10-11)
The “rivers” and “springs” of water are The sun, moon, and stars are “darkened” for
polluted by a falling star called one-third of the day. There is some cosmic
“Wormwood,” a bitter substance,like the destruction of the atmosphere. The ozone
bitter pollution of radioactive fallout layer has been severely damaged and people
following a nuclear explosion. are suffering from radiation poisoning.
THE WORLD AT WAR
•Chapter 8 ends with an eagle (angel) flying through heaven
crying with a loud voice: “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell
on earth.”
•Woe is a prophetic pronouncement of doom.
•The triple woe is given in connection with the three trumpets
that are still to sound.
THE WORLD AT WAR
•The extent of these judgments affects the whole world.
•If the Church were still on earth during this time, she would
be caught right in the middle of this great global disaster.
However, the trumpet judgments do not concern the Church
as such.They are God’s judgments on the world.
•There is no mention of the Church because during this time,
she has already gone home to glory in the Rapture.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
PREMILLENNIALISM
CAN IT GET ANY WORSE?
(CHAPTER 10)
This chapter serves as an interlude between the sixth and
seventh trumpets. It includes the apocalyptic thunders,
which are sealed up and kept secret. The sounding of the
seventh trumpet is delayed until John can take the “little
book,” devour it, and prophesy again.
AND I SAW ANOTHER MIGHTY ANGEL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN, CLOTHED WITH A CLOUD: AND A RAINBOW WAS
UPON HIS HEAD, AND HIS FACE WAS AS IT WERE THE SUN,
AND HIS FEET AS PILLARS OF FIRE: (10:1)
•Do not mistake the angel for Christ. Christ never appears as an
angel in the Apocalypse. Verse 1 says, “I saw another…” There is
no “other” Christ. The angel also swears by God (v. 5-6), lifting his
hand to heaven. This is something Christ would not do.
•Angels play a prominent role in the Apocalypse, serving,
worshiping, and praising God, announcing messages, delivering
judgments, and battling evil forces. These angelic beings are the
servants of God Almighty.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
AND WHEN THE SEVEN THUNDERS HAD UTTERED THEIR
VOICES, I WAS ABOUT TO WRITE: AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM
HEAVEN SAYING UNTO ME, SEAL UP THOSE THINGS WHICH THE
SEVEN THUNDERS UTTERED, AND WRITE THEM NOT.(10:4)
•Any attempt to guess the meaning of the utterances of the seven
thunders is presumptuous and unjustified. Just as Daniel (12:9)
was told to seal up his prophecies until the “end time,” so we must
wait on God’s timing to reveal the seven thunders of the future.
•The angel’s major declaration was that “there shall be no longer
delay” (v. 6-7). The angel is answering the cry of the martyrs in
heaven (6:9-12) who were told to rest awhile until other martyrs
join them. Now, there will be no delay. The end has come!
AND I WENT UNTO THE ANGEL, AND SAID UNTO HIM, GIVE ME
THE LITTLE BOOK. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, TAKE IT, AND EAT IT
UP; AND IT SHALL MAKE THY BELLY BITTER, BUT IT SHALL BE IN
THY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY.(10:9)
•The little book is a smaller document that John is told to eat.
Eating the scroll is a way of saying that he is to read it and devour
its message.
•The little scroll is a special message from God to John. John is to
make its message known by prophesying again “before many
peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” (10:11).
AND I WENT UNTO THE ANGEL, AND SAID UNTO HIM, GIVE ME
THE LITTLE BOOK. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, TAKE IT, AND EAT IT
UP; AND IT SHALL MAKE THY BELLY BITTER, BUT IT SHALL BE IN
THY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY.(10:9)
•The eating of the scroll is similar to the experiences of the
prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. (Jeremiah 1:9; 5:14; 15:16; Ezekiel
3:1-3).
•For every prophet, including John, there was a bittersweet
message. It was sweet to the believer because it offered hope. But
it was bitter to the unbeliever because it pronounced judgment.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
HELL ON EARTH
(CHAPTER 11)
The invasion of Jerusalem by the Gentiles is accompanied
by the rise of the two witnesses. The scene shifts to the
earthly Jerusalem, which is the center of the coming
conflict with the beast. The witnesses are martyred and
then miraculously resurrected.
HELL ON EARTH
•Satan’s opposition to the two witnesses reaches a dramatic climax
in their execution, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.
•Time remains suspended between the sixth and seventh trumpets
as John the revelator tells us about measuring the temple, the
invasion of the Gentiles, the appearance of the two witnesses, and
the rise of the beast out of the bottomless pit to oppose them.
•The spiritual conflict intensifies with human, natural, and cosmic
forces in collision with God’s final purposes for planet earth.
HELL ON EARTH!
•The “great city… where also their Lord was crucified” (v. 8) is
Jerusalem.
•The two witnesses (v. 3) are two individual evangelists.
•The earthquake (v. 13) is a real earthquake.
•The “beast” from the “abyss” (v. 7) is the same beast as the
one described in 13:1-10: the Antichrist.
•The temple (v. 1, 2, 19) is the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
HELL ON EARTH!
•Sackcloth –It was worn as a sign of mourning and penitence.
•Olive Trees –The two olive trees (bearers of the Spirit) are
the two lampstands. Lampstands equal churches, the two
witnesses are either the church, part of the church, or two
individuals who as leaders fulfill the church’s mission to be
Christ’s witnesses.
HELL ON EARTH!
•Lie in the public square –In the near east, a decent burial
was usually considered so important that it was provided
even for enemies. To deny burial was the worst possible
insult and outrage.
•Great City –Sodom symbolized immorality and Egypt
represented slavery and oppression.
HELL ON EARTH!
•Chapter 11 introduces the first references to the time elements in
Revelation.
•The Gentiles trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months (v. 2).
•The two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days (v. 3).
•The beast is given power to rule 42 months (13:5).
•The woman (Israel) flees from persecution for 1,260 days (v. 6), or
“a time and times and half a time” (v. 14).
•All of these calculations add up to 3 ½ years.
•The 3 ½ years represent the last half of the Tribulation, or the
Great Tribulation.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
HELL ON EARTH
•Chapter 8 ends with an eagle (angel) flying through heaven
crying with a loud voice: “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell
on earth.”
•First woe = fifth trumpet (9:1-12)
•Second woe = sixth trumpet + interlude (9:13-11:14)
•Third woe = seventh trumpet (11:15-19)
SEVENTH TRUMPET (11:15-19)
•These five verses are among the most dramatic verses in the
entire Bible.
•Christ takes possession of the kingdoms of this world.
•He reigns and rules forever.
•God’s wrath has come upon the earth.
•The nations will be judged.
•The saints will be rewarded.
•The temple of God in heaven is opened.
•The Ark of the Covenant is revealed.
REVELATION 12 -13
•Session 1 –Introduction and •Session 4 –The Problem
Background to Revelation (Chapters 4 & 5): Seven-
•Session 2 –The Prologue Sealed Scroll
(Chapter 1): Vision of the •Session 5 –The Process:
Coming King Seven Seals and Seven
Trumpets (Ch. 9 –11)
•Session 3 –The Proclamation
•Session 6 & 7 –Seven Key
(Chapters 2 & 3): Letters to Figures in the End-Times
the Seven Churches Drama
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
WAR IN HEAVEN
CHAPTERS 12 AND 13
Right in the middle of the Book of Revelation lists the seven
symbolic players in the great end-times drama. The identity
of these figures is crucial to the interpretation of the whole
book.
WAR IN HEAVEN
•The seventh trumpet has opened the way for a revelation of
the seven bowl judgments. But for that revelation to be
meaningful, a sketch of the hidden forces behind this great
climax in history and the personages that play a part in that
climax is necessary.
•Seven symbolic “players” are introduced in Chapters 12 –13.
These are the major participants in the great end-times
drama.
WHO’S WHO IN THE END TIMES?
•John wrote these two chapters to help us identify the major
players in the apocalyptic drama.
•These two chapters belong to the entire section of the
Revelation that deals with “what must take place after these
things” (4:1)
•This was part of John’s vision of the future.
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
WHO’S WHO IN THE END TIMES?
•John uses these two chapters to take us behind the scenes of
the great eschatological drama.
•In these seven symbolic signs, we see the future that yet shall
be. And, in them, we also see the role each important
character will play in the final conflict between Christ and
the Antichrist.
READ CHAPTERS 12 AND 13
Who do the Seven Symbolic Players Represent?
The Seven Symbolic Players in the Great End-Times Drama
Woman Israel
12:1-2, 6, 13-16
Dragon Satan
12:3-4, 9, 12-13
Male Child Christ
12:2, 5
Michael Archangel
12:7-12
Rest of her offpring Seed of Woman
12:17 (saved Israel)
Beast of the sea Antichrist
13:1-10
Beastof the earth False Prophet
13:11-18
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The Drama of Revelation ‐Session VII 02/28/2017
THE KEY PLAYERS
WOMAN: ISRAEL (REV. 12:1-2, 13-16)
•A woman appears who was “clothed with the sun, and the
moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars
(12:1).
•The woman symbolizes the nation and people of Israel. The
imagery is taken from Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9-11,
where the sun and moon and twelve stars represent the
patriarchs of Israel and the twelve tribes.
THE KEY PLAYERS
WOMAN: ISRAEL (REV. 12:1-2, 13-16)
•The woman is not the Church! The woman is depicted here
as giving birth to the Messiah (the “male child”).
•The Church did not give birth to Christ. Rather, Christ gave
birth to the Church.
•The woman is not Mary the mother of Jesus, but the
messianic community, the ideal Israel.
THE KEY PLAYERS
WOMAN: ISRAEL (REV. 12:1-2, 13-16)
•The woman has the “crown of twelve stars,” symbolizing the
twelve tribes of Israel.
•Later in this chapter, the woman, the mother of Christ, is
persecuted and driven into the wilderness for 1,260 days or
3 ½ years (Rev. 12:6, 14).
•She is the mother of Christ (Israel), not the Bride of Christ
(Church).
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