Revelation 12-15:4

(5.1) Signs Of Israel Satan [Rev. 12:1-11]

First Sign: The Woman (Israel) [12:1-2]

(Rev 12:1) A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; (2) and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

We see a great sign (not small sign), something supernatural (“in heaven”), the woman. Her appearance is described as different cosmic parts of creation, nothing grounded on earth here.

A great sign:

12:1 “a great sign appeared” (this is the first of 7 signs in the last half of revelation. See also 12:3, 13:13,14, 15:1, 16:14, 19:20)… “Mega (great) appears repeatedly in this vision; everything John saw seemed to be huge either in sign or significance.” (John McArthur) As far as the sign… Semeion (sign) describes a symbol that points to a reality.

“As signs they were symbols of something that God was about to reveal and usually contained an element of prophetic warning. Though this sign was seen in heaven, the events which followed obviously occurred on earth.” -BKC

Clothed with the sun, Moon under her feet, Crown with twelve stars:

These three descriptors reflect a dream of Joseph’s (Gen 37:9-11), where the sun symbolizes Joseph’s father, the moon: his mother, and the 11 other stars: his brothers. “The sun, moon and stars depict the glory and dominion which has been promised to her in the coming kingdom, just as they pictured Joseph’s ultimate rule over his father, mother, and brothers.” -BBC

Sun – In Ps 104:2, God is described as clothing himself with light as a garment. The woman “reflects redeemed Israel’s unique glory, brilliance, and dignity because of her exalted status as God’s chosen nation” (John MacArthur)

Moon – “The moon is the less light, ruling over the night, and deriving all its illumination from the sun; in like manner the Jewish dispensation was the bright moonlight night of the world, and possessed a portion of the glorious light of the Gospel. At the rising of the sun the night is ended, and the lunar light no longer necessary, as the sun which enlightens her shines full upon the earth; exactly in the same way has the whole Jewish system of types and shadows has been superseded by the birth, life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Jesus Christ.” -Clarke

Stars – The stars symbolize either the 12 tribes (Jam. 1:1; Rev. 21:12) or the 12 apostles (Rev. 21:14; Dan. 12:3). “But he added something which the pagans of Asia Minor would well recognize as part of the old Babylonian picture of the divine. They frequently depicted their goddesses as crowned with the twelve signs of the zodiac and this also is in John’s mind. It is as if he took all the signs of divinity and beauty which he could find and added them together.” -DSB

“They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and
they that turn many to righteousness, as the Stars for ever and ever.”
-Daniel 12:3

With child/about to give birth:

The woman is in labor (not early pregnancy or anything like that) giving birth to a son. “While in some sense this may be fulfilled in the birth of Christ to the Virgin Mary, the context seems to refer to the emerging nation of Israel in its suffering prior to the second coming of Christ. This is further supported by the verses which follow.” -BKC

Who is the Woman? Her most important characteristic is giving birth to a son (no ordinary son). He rules the world with uncompromising power and is now caught up to God, in heaven, on a throne (see second sign). So when we think of who this applies to, clearly Jesus. “She is not a literal woman; she is a symbol. The career of the woman corresponds to that of Israel, for it is Israel that gave birth to Christ, who is the Child. “ -McGee

The woman is a sign of Israel. (Israel gives birth to Jesus)

Second Sign: The Dragon (Satan = Loser) Appears [12:3-6]

(Rev 12:3) Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. (4) And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

Second sign = Great red dragon: He is a “Serpent of old”. Has 7 heads,10 horns, 7 diadems (royal crowns).

great – symbolizes Satan’s vast power, controls the nations of the world
red – again, we have the word for the color of fire, symbolizes how Satan was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), no regard for human life
dragon – symbolizes how Satan has a vicious character, the epitome of evil.
7 heads – could symbolize either the perfection of wisdom Satan had before his downfall (Ez 28:12) or seats of power Satan had, a geographic symbol. “It was not unusual to attribute many heads to monsters, especially to fabulous monsters, and these greatly increased the terror of the animal” (Barnes). “The seven heads refer to the city from which Antichrist will reign—the city referred to throughout history as the City of Seven Hills: Rome.” -Courson
10 horns – horns are emblems of power, symbolizes ten kingdoms (See Daniel 7:24 – “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings”). The horns may refer to Satan’s political base (Courson).
7 diadems – diadems are part of royal crowns, and represent kingly authority and rulership or power. “If Christ as Conqueror has “many diadems,” it is not strange that Satan should wear seven” (RWP).

Older commentaries, such as Matthew Henry and Gill tend to liken the beast to the roman empire. “As having seven heads, that is, placed on seven hills, as Rome was; and therefore it is probable that pagan Rome is here meant. As having ten horns, divided into ten provinces, as the Roman empire was by Augustus Caesar.” -Matthew Henry

The typical image of Satan that we often see with him having horns, cloven feet, and a forked tail comes from the Roman/Greek “great god” Pan, and is not an accurate representation of Satan (but he’ll take the worship anyway).

tail swept away 1/3 of the stars – Indicates the vast extent of the rebellion in heaven when 1/3 of the angels followed Satan (to their own destruction). See Dan 8:10.
waiting to devour the child – “The picture of the dragon waiting to devour the child comes from Jeremiah, in which it is said of Nebuchadnezzar that “he has swallowed me like a monster” (Jer 51:34).” -DSB

(5) And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. (6) Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

12:5 – rule with a rod of iron – The main characteristic of iron is inflexibility (it shatters rather than bend at all), so ruling with a rod of iron is symbolic of uncompromising power. “That is a quotation from Ps 2:9 and was an accepted description of the Messiah.” (DSB)

caught up to God and His throne – a reference to the ascension of Christ. “ascending up to heaven, as the two witnesses in the preceding chapter are said to do, denotes exaltation, or a rise to some more glorious state and condition” -Gill

“Jesus Christ was delivered by the direct action of God from the hostile powers which continually attacked him.” (DSB)

Rev 12:6: The woman flees into the a place prepared by God (in the wilderness) for nourishment for 3 ½ years.
1260 Days – Another way of saying 3 1/2 years.

War in Heaven [12:7-11]

(12:7) And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, (8) and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The dragon had a desire to destroy Jesus but couldn’t; tried to turn anger on Israel, but she’s protected; wages war with Michael and the angels; was thrown down from heaven to earth and his angels with him. The dragon, Satan, deceives the whole world (12:9), and is the accuser of brethren (12:10), accusing day and night (12:10).

Satan literally means adversary.

This sign tells us Satan = a loser. He has never won or accomplished a single objective he’s had, ever. He’s never even remotely approached a victory, weaker than Michael; there is no way he is God’s rival, he can’t even compete with an archangel. He’s a deceiver, doesn’t have any real power. This sign tells us Satan has no power over us. And the only power he has is what God gives him to accomplish certain purposes.

(10) Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. (11) “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Rev. 12:11 tells us how Satan can be overcome—by the blood of the lamb. The only way you can overcome the accusations (this is the ONLY time the devil ever tells the truth, he doesn’t have to make that stuff up, we’re sinful humans) by the devil is faith in Jesus’s death on the cross.

 We overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb and our testimony. 

(1) Blood of the Lamb: The only way you overcome the accusations by the devil is faith in Jesus’s death on the cross. Paid in Full.

(2) Word of our Testimony: the truth of God’s work in your life. Its easy to be deceived into feeling like you’re the only one struggling with your problems or that you can’t overcome them. But the blood of your testimony has power, it shows the truth of what God is doing. This truth blows Satan’s deceptions out of the water.

Truth of what God is doing dispels deception . You can share your testimony with a clean conscience (no guilt or shame) and confidence because you claimed the blood of Jesus over all the accusations, this reflects God’s grace in your life. Mike Macintosh, he shares his testimony without shame, he testifies about the deception that you’re “too far gone for God” (there’s no such thing).

(3) There is one more thing to overcoming the devil. They did not “love their lives to the death” (Rev. 12:11). Motivation is not for self. You don’t love your own life, but Satan will try to get you to do this, by turning your focus and concentration to the flesh and your life. He tries to control you with fear that you will lose “valuable” parts of your life. If he gets you to buy into that deception, he now controls you.

Overcome by learning to self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice is what makes you fearless. Fear of being a missionary because you don’t get a paycheck is fear that God won’t provide for you. Why do we bludgeon you with all these difficult painful experiences in HSE? So you will overcome fear. So you will not be fearful of losing. Sometimes our great fears are because we’ve never experienced certain things, a fear of the unknown. Running out of money isn’t really as big a deal as you might think. Maybe it means living off potatoes and having to sacrifice a trip home to see your family (George’s experiences as a missionary in Russia). That’s not a big deal, but what is a big deal is not living life. Lay as deep and wide a foundation as you can and then start building.

George: “I have been so sick on the mission field that I have prayed to die before”. But was it worth it? “Absolutely. I wouldn’t have traded that for anything. But to be in that…to be in a tribal wedding, to see the richness of the Christian ritual there…” Ritual that we are committed to work together six steps forward, six back, seven steps forward, six back…that marriage is work, but committed to move forward together. “To have a monkey steal my shaving cream was priceless….to see hundreds of Kenyans come to know Jesus…a whole tribe singing in tongues around the camp-fire”. You have to be willing to not love life to death. This is why “he who loves his life loses it, but he who gives up life will gain it”

Get beyond being comfortable. Embrace sacrifice. Be willing to die for what truly matters. Would you be willing to die for the Gospel? The sad ironic thing is that you’d be giving it up over the fear of a loser: that’s like forfeiting against a team that had no capacity to win you because they had a big poster, or their mascot was scary looking.

“The martyr has proved superior to every seduction and to every threat and even to the violence of Satan. Here is a dramatic truth for life every time we choose to suffer rather than to be disloyal is the defeat of Satan.” (DSB).

The Application: rest in grace, encourage others, live life to the hilt.

(5.2) Satan Thrown From Heaven, Powerless, “Attacks” Believers [Rev 12:12-17]

(12:12) “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” (13) And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (14) But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (15) And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (16) But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. (17) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Satan is a loser, thrown out of heaven (“for this reason, rejoice”). So we should rejoice. Those in heaven should rejoice. Those on earth should have woe, grieve, because (substantiation) the devil has come down with great wrath that he only has a short time. That’s where the devil’s at throwing cheap shots trying to get as much as he can even though he knows there’s no way to win the game.

Contrast: (Rev. 12:14) Dragon tries to persecute Israel, but she’s given great wings so she can fly to a great wilderness to be nourished for same time frame. There is this unique chunk of time that keeps popping up. There is a three and a half year period of human history these signs will pertain to.

Next contrast? The woman escaping contrasted with? Being swept away with the flood. Floods tend to refer to great numbers of people in prophesy. Sea = great multitude. Flood = same. Great army possibly coming against Israel. Bummer to be a part of that flood.

Implications of all of this?
Who is Satan really going against? (He doesn’t have power against God, Michael, etc). He is very limited. He has great desire for harm but very little capacity for it.
What’s the causation here? “So”…the dragon is enraged and goes off to make war with the rest of her children (those who can keep the commandments). These are believers. Not ethnic Israel. It’s those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. His first wrath was on the Jews. God protected them.

So then he turns to the church, believers.I want you to think about this: What has John seen about these great signs? He’s seen this woman of cosmic importance. Gives birth to a male child. Devil tries to go after the Woman but can’t. Tries to go against those who hold to the testimony but we overcome through blood of lamb and.. so he can’t do anything else either. Is the purpose of this sign starting to sink in yet?The devil can’t do anything.Who can do anything he wants? God. Its not apples and oranges. Its farmers market and compost pile. Not even on same plane. No comparison. Doesn’t even show up as a spec on the radar screen.

When do all these things happen? It doesn’t tell us. Therefore it must not be important for us to know.

What is important for us to understand? Satan has no power and we can easily overcome him. It is not “with great difficulty overcome”. It is as simple as trusting in God’s grace and sharing your testimony and stuff.

(5.3)The Beast Of The Sea ~ Revelation 13:1-10

(13:1) And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. (2) And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

13:1 – “Ruling over these kingdoms and this beast is the Dragon, the ultimate power. The woman is fornicating with a kingdom that has Satan behind it.” -Kay Arthur

Real power affects things eternally . You could go smash windows and windshields. We’d say “wow look at the power”. But what is affected for eternity? Nothing. No real power to change anything of substance. Real power. Not perceived power. Satan can create a deception of a perception of power.We are told what the beast looks like. He’s not really doing anything. He looks intimidating. He’s not doing anything yet.

(3) I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; (4) they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” (5) There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. (6) And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. (7) It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. (8) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

What happens to one of his heads? Mortally wounded. And its healed. The whole earth is amazed and follows the beast. What’s significant about all this?The whole world, the whole world as they’re following him worships the dragon. The dragon gives him of his throne power and authority. They worshipped the beast…Satan has done what? Changed tactics? Can’t win through outright confrontation so I’ll have the focus be shifted off me to this beast who kind of represents me and looks impressive and looks to have had this resurrection experience and will result in people following after. What has been the devil’s motive all along? Get people to worship him. He wants to occupy that place of God. So now he’s going indirectly. The devil is so insecure he’s an attention grabber.He needs people to affirm who he is. Not only is he a loser, he knows it.

What is interesting about this whole scenario? The dragon is behind it all. The earth knows that. They are worshiping Satan for it. They remember all this wrath being poured out but are still willing to go after the devil. Based on deception. No real power to any of it.

When does it seem powerful? When its packaged up in a man. Then everybody’s amazed. What is given to the beast? Power, throne, great authority. Give to him, give to him, give to him. (Did you underline all those?) A mouth to speak blasphemies…

He’s going to rule the world for 1260 days, 3 ½ years. We have surmised from earlier segments that church is gone. Its no longer mentioned as being on the earth. John got snatched up, is watching this from heaven. Saints would be tribulation saints, those saved out of tribulation, those invited to the wedding ceremony of the lamb, not the bride. Those who come to Christ in wrath not love, as a result of the pouring out of God’s wrath not his pouring out love.

Some of the Left Behind theology is off base. 144k marked = ethnic Jews, not every believer. They are not protected in the tribulation.

What’s significant about all of this? What did I have you underline? Its still given. He (the beast) has no ability or authority of his own, everything has to be given to him, and only for a limited short amount of time. The devil gets his one moment of glory but then God comes in and says ‘oh out of time’.

(9) If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (10) If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Last sentence in paragraph…word for saints during this verse (Rev 13:10), the perseverance and faith of the saints…endure something severe for a lengthy period of time. Enduring trials over time = perseverance. Faith is having hope, evidence of what is unseen. Knowing this is just a season and what is coming is sure to pass. They can still lean on God and persevere in faith.

Sign is representational (figurative, not literal). The idea is much bigger than what John is seeing in the sign. Woman -> Israel. Dragon -> Devil.
Challenge your thinking beast = a sign…not just literal. Is this representing something larger?

Review

Woman’s main characteristic: bringing Son into the earth, ruling with unbendable power…
The woman = Israel

Dragon: never won anything, constant loser, rep. Satan.

Our attitude should be as a result: sense of victory, confidence in faith in God. Satan is not God’s archenemy. Not comparable.

5.3 review:

…beast came out of seashore… in a lot of ways looks like the dragon. like a leopard…his agenda= to get them to worship the dragon. This is what Satan has always been after. Notice they don’t worship the beast but the Dragon. What does the world know about the dragon? They know who is behind it, and worshiping him for it. In light of everything they’ve seen (wrath, etc) they’re still choosing to worship dragon. Implication for why they would be worshiping dragon still?

Power seems more impressive in a smaller context. In the context of what? Focused on the earth. Out of the cosmic realm. At this point the earth is mostly populated with people who are not only non-believers, but not repenting in face of the wrath of God. They are perhaps deceived into thinking he is the “way out”. Deceptive… In reality the dragon has very limited power. But packaged in a man it now seems impressive.

Middle of paragraph: what is given to the beast? a mouth is given to the beast…going to be speaking arrogant words (bolster idea he’s somebody). He is given: a time frame (42 mo = 3.5 yrs.) What’s significant about that?God controls all of that. God is still in control. The Beast has no ability, power, authority of his own. The power he is given is only given to him for a short period of time. He’s just a pawn in the big picture. Interesting to tell how the devil works. Notice how much reverence is given to the beast, the anti-Christ in doctrine that is out there.

Implication of what Satan is doing? Wanting the world to worship him, and willing to take it vicariously through someone else. If he can’t get it outright, he’ll take it through the beast.

(v.10) What will he be able to do? The saints will not be protected; he will be able to make war against them and overcome them.

“Perseverance and faith of the saints” means what?
Perseverance = to endure, suffer though, for a long period of time
Faith = endure, keep believing
The things they hope for they can be certain will come to pass, even if circumstances seem contrary.

(5.4) The Beast Of The Earth ~ Rev. 13:11-18

(13:11) Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. (12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

(13) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. (14) And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. (15) And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (16) And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, (17) and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. (18) Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Inductive Study Questions: What do we see in this paragraph? What are we told about the beast? What does the beast looks like? What does he do? What is given to him? For what purpose? What is this a sign of? What’s the implication here? What’s the significance of this paragraph? What’s the application to us?

John sees another beast, this one coming out of the earth. It has two horns like lamb, speaks like dragon, exercises all of Satan’s authority, and makes them worship the first beast.

Implication : Satan isn’t getting the worship he wants from the first beast.

The Dragon gave this beast his throne/power/authority.
Implication: His power is all delegated, he has no power/authority of his own.

Are Satan and these two beasts an “un-holy trinity”? No, this is not three in one. It is three separate beings. It does give insight to the devil: he has no creativity; he’s a copy-cat (trying to copy God’s design). He really is pathetic.

It’s interesting that this second beast performs great signs, makes fire come down from heaven, and deceives whole earth with these signs. These signs are GIVEN to him. Not signs he himself can perform. What does he tell all those who dwell on earth to do? Worship beast by creating an image (Does “thou shalt not create any graven image” come to mind?). What else given to him? … speak. Beast seems to be able to speak and through the speaking, cause those who aren’t worshipping to be killed. Rat on those who aren’t worshipping this idol. This image has the knowledge of those who don’t worship the beast and is verbalizing/calling out those people. (This sounds like a trait of Satan, the accuser).

The new economic system: its designed to separate out the saints from the Satan worshippers. If you register, you’re going into Satan’s camp. The beast image gets the info on who isn’t worshipping the beast from looking for who doesn’t have the mark, not through wisdom or a word of knowledge. 2 nd beast says everybody’s got to be registered to buy and sell: this implicates a new cashless economic system. Not too hard to see that coming from today’s vantage point.

The Mark: Name & Number Of The Beast

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name . Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. ” (Revelation 13:16-18)

So what is “the mark of the Beast”? The short answer is: we can’t know yet. Trying to figure it out at this point is like doing a simple equation without all the data to try and figure it out right now. There will come a point and time where it will be obvious if you have wisdom and understanding.

The Mark: What we do know

• The mark is either:
  • The name of the beast
  • The number of his name (666)
• The mark is given on the right hand or forehead
• It is economic (used to buy and sell)
• It crosses socio-economic boundaries
• It requires wisdom and understanding to discern what the mark is
• It is intended to be able to be understood
• The number is calculable (but since anyone with wisdom and understanding can calculate this number it probably doesn’t take a degree to figure out, its simple math)

Why is this in the bible?
God included this detail not to help us figure out ahead of time who the beast is, but to those saints who are persevering, to be a sign of what to avoid, that this isn’t just “status-quo”.

Food for thought
“The number of man” is six (eg. man created on the sixth day).

666 is not a number to be superstitious about (eg. you don’t need to freak out of your license plate comes from the DMV with 666 in it).

(5.5) Lamb+144k (Rev. 14:1-5)

Rev 14:1-5 (1) Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. (3) And they *sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. (4) These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (5) And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

John sees? Lamb standing with 144k. Name of father written on their foreheads. They sang a new song. They had been purchased from earth, male virgins (this blows that whole Mormon idea out of water), Jewish, follow the lamb wherever he goes. Purchased from the first-fruits. No lie among them, blameless. Significant of this paragraph? Showing us? What’s happening now? There’s starting to be a clear delineation of camps. No blending in. Almost in contrast to the preceding paragraph.

It’s interesting that the line the devil is choosing to draw in the sand is an economic one (vs. other choices like theological) for what will tell the difference between his kids and God’s kids.

(5.6) Angels (Rev. 14:6-12)

Rev 14:6-12 (6) And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (7) and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.” (8) And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.” (9) Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (11) “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” (12) Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

John saw: another angel flying in mid-heaven.

Mid-heaven = upper atmosphere

These angels have an eternal gospel to preach. They’re cruising around the planet preaching the Gospel with a huge PA system, telling everyone to fear God, worship he who actually MADE something.

Second angel saying, third angel saying…

This is where you get the saying “preaching fire and brimstone” from. The FULL measure of God’s wrath and fire: coming soon. How many chances has God already given the planet?

It’s interesting the contrast between Satan and God. They both want worship. But God wants worship that is voluntary and true. He uses the truth. Satan gets worship through deception and force.

(Rev 14:11) Great statement again: smoke of torment goes up, no rest to Satan worshippers.

• Do you see why it’s so important for worshippers to know the mark of the beast?
• Is this torment temporary? No. Hell is not just for a season. It says here “forever and ever” and they have NO rest.

Perseverance of the saints = keep commandments of God and their faith. Perseverance by not falling into the peer pressure of the culture (devil’s new economic system).

They keep following God in face of getting killed because they have FAITH. Better to be killed than to not follow God’s way. Not making decisions based on expediency.

Expediency is a bad way to make decisions. That’s the thinking that the ends justify the means. Expedience over obedience? Faith is that they believe that ultimately God wins. They understand the signs.

(5.7) Better Off Dead (Revelation 14:13-20)

Rev 14:13-20 (13) And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

• What does John hear next? A voice from heaven saying write blessed are the dead…
• Why? At this point in the story you’re better off dead. “They may rest from their labors” (Rev. 14:13)
• What labors are they resting from? Perseverance. Eventually there will be rest if we persevere. In context of previous paragraph: there will be no rest forever and ever if you compromise and take a shortcut that turns into a never-ending-cut. Their works (deeds) follow with them (14:13)
• Implication? there are things you can do (actions, works, deeds) that will follow with you into eternity.

The Harvest of the Earth

(14) Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. (15) And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.”

(16) Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. (17) And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. (18) Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” (19) So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. (20) And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

In rest of paragraph: we see what happen? One like the son of man…sickle in hand…angel comes out…earth is harvested. The time is fulfilled. The time for judgment has finally come and the earth is being harvested. Contrast: We tend to think of harvest in a positive connotation, but in here they’re being harvested right into the winepress of the wrath of God. This is often referred to as the “ Battle of Armageddon”. It seems as though the wicked are being harvested. Works like a wine-press, a squeezing pressing experience. What comes out is blood.

Horse’s bridle = 5 feet high. 200 miles 5 feet deep = a lot of carnage. What’s significant about that? It’s measurable. There’s no more opportunity to repent.

Promises that are made are held up. God wins. Its total, its complete. The beast is not rallying. When the sickle swings, it’s swung, there’s no opposition to it.

(5.8) Seven Marvelous Plagues (Rev 15:1-4)

Rev 15:1-4 (1) Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

• Last sign in this segment? Seven angels with 7 plagues.
• Described as? A Great and marvelous sign, not just a sign. These are the last signs. In them the wrath of God is finished.

(2) And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. (3) And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! (4) “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

What else does John see? Sea of glass, people singing song of the lamb. Great and marvelous are your works, … God’s wrath was righteous and true, holy, marvelous…

What’s been righteous in all of this? Trying to save people. In all of this, its wrath mingled with compassion. Wrath that hurts, God’s heart isn’t for these people to perish; some may respond (a multitude that couldn’t be numbered, responded to the wrath of God).

Segment Conclusions

Satan = Loser. Defeated, unsuccessful, frustrated. Everything he is doing is only temporary. Two beasts are temporary, have no power, everything they do is delegated, to do God’s purposes. God’s people in contrast, keep their faith.

In last paragraph those singing = those victorious over beast…these are those ones who persevered over the number and his name, those who were called out by the beast’s image. In the end they’re in the victorious position, they win. God’s people are always supernaturally protected when they persevere.

What have we seen about God? Righteous, true, always in control. He has a time when he will finish. In the end, even those who worship the beast will see him for who he is. No one will be deceived in the end. The truth will come out.

Navigation