Revelation 13:1-10
1) What comes to mind when you hear the word “beast?”
2) How did John describe the beast? Description John uses were familiar to his readers living in the first century A.D. and not necessarily to us living in the 21st century A.D.
He has ten horns and seven heads – multiple horns on an animal commonly refers to successive nations (See Daniel 7). Seven heads possibly refers to rulers. All, nations and rulers, under the authority of the beast.
The beast wore ten diadems on its horns – Diadem is an ornamental headband. The Greeks differentiated between crown (stephanos) and diadem (diadema). The diadem was superior to a crown. The diadem represented absolute power. The diadems over the horns perhaps symbolize the beast’s authority over nations and rulers.
Blasphemous names written on its heads – Blasphemy – insulting, sacrilegious, irreverent, offensive words directed against God. example – Roman emperors often assumed titles of deity because they claimed to be gods. Roman emperor Domitian is said to have given himself the title “Our lord and god.” That was how people were to refer to him. In the same way, the beast will adopt titles/names that Christians will regard to be blasphemous.
The beast looked like a leopard with feet a bear, and mouth like a lion. Leopard – speed; Feet of bear – strength, power, ferocity; Mouth of a lion – a resounding roar that is intimidating. The beast rise to power is as swift as a leopard through ferocious tactics and intimidation.3) What did the dragon give the beast? Power, throne, and authority over this world system. The beast accepted from Satan what Jesus refused. Read Matthew 4:8-10.
4) What happened to one of the beast’s heads? Mortally wounded but was healed. The beast will nearly die from an attack but will miraculously recover. Sound familiar? A facsimile of Jesus’ death and resurrection experience.
5) How will people react to what happened the beast? People will be astounded by the beast’s “resurrection” from death. The event will lead people to worship the dragon (Satan) and the beast (AntiChrist).
6) vs. 4. What question did people ask and in what mind-set do you think they asked it? Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it? Mind-set – Confidence; arrogance. Unlike the mind-set people had in Revelation 6:16 … one of fear and uncertainty. In Revelation 13, the people have found a savior who is powerful and fearsome … who will stand up to God.
7) What was given/allowed to the beast? A) A mouth that uttered blasphemous and arrogant words. Directed against who? God and His followers. The beast will trash talk against God. Tear God down. For what purpose? To build himself up (example of arrogance). The beast will play on people’s fears/uncertainties/anger that stem from the chaotic events going on in the world (Revelation 6-9). In a very insulting/sacrilegious manner, the beast will make God and his followers the bad guys. God is to blame for all the bad things going on in the world which is true because God is pouring out His wrath upon the world. Rather than lead the people in repentance, the beast is taking advantage of events for his own ungodly goals. B) Allowed to rule for three and a half years over every nation on the planet. How will people respond to the beast? They will worship him. Give him ultimate reverence. C) Allowed to make war against the saints (followers of God) and conquer them. This act will gain the beast greater love from people in the world. The saints and their God are to blame for all the bad things happening in the world. Beast makes the saints scapegoats similar to what Hitler did to the Jews. Description of what the beast will do sounds very similar to the rider of the white horse found in Revelation 6.
8) What do verses 9-10 mean to you? These verses give credence to commentators who teach that the Church will go through at least half of the 7 year Great Tribulation.
Revelation 13:9-18
9) How did John describe the second beast? Two horns like a lamb – horns referred to nations. Second beast is powerful but not as powerful as the first beast. Lamb – non-threatening animal unlike a leopard, bear, or lion. However, it has the voice of a dragon – extremely intimidating.10) What role does the second beast play in end times events? Make people worship the first beast. He is the anti-Holy Spirit. The role of the Holy Spirit is to lead people to become followers of God. The role of the second beast, or false prophet as he is also referred to, is to lead people to become followers of the AntiChrist.
11) How will he be able to carry out that role? Through great signs such as causing fire to rain down from the sky. Similar miracle performed by Elijah in I Kings 18 in the contest to determine who in Israel is the one true God – Yahweh or Baal? Another sign – Second beast convinced people to create an image of the first beast. He enabled the image to speak. Convinced many to worship the first beast. Those who didn’t were put to death.12) What did the second beast require of every person on earth? To be marked on right hand or forehead with the name of the beast or his number. For what purpose? To acknowledge their loyalty to the first beast/AntiChrist. Just as God marked the 144,000 which identified them as His servants, the second beast has people marked to identify them as followers of the Antichrist.
13) How does he convince people to receive this mark? A person will not be able to buy or sell without the mark. A person will not be able to buy food, clothing, and shelter without the mark. A person will not be able make a wage without the mark. A person will not be able to do business without the mark. The AntiChrist will have absolute control over the world economy.
14) Verse 18 - John writes, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast ….” How does knowing the number of the beast (666) give wisdom concerning WHO/WHAT the beast is? There has been much speculation and commentary concerning the meaning the mark of the beast and 666. John perhaps using a secret code that only his readers would know to identify the AntiChrist. Other commentators assigned the numbers to letters, a practice called numerology, which was not uncommon in John’s day. Using numerology, commentators believe 666 spells “Neron” or “Nero.” John was warning his readers that the coming AntiChrist would be like Nero.
Greg’s commentary on the mark of the beast/666 -
Verse 18 is huge/significant in understanding who the beast is or I should say who he is NOT!!!!!!!! The beast is not a god, not an archangel, not an angel, not a demon, not an animal (referred to as a beast to describe not outer appearance but inner appearance), not a superior being. He is a MAN AND ONLY A MAN!!!!
How does such understanding give us today and people living at this time understanding/wisdom? Yes, the AntiChrist will have tremendous authority and power - political, economic, military, and spiritual. But those qualities do not make him a god to be worshipped or an angel or demon to be feared. Stripped of all these “superior” qualities he is only a man. Should a man be feared? Even one as evil as he? Who bears the sword and foments persecution, famine, nakedness, and peril?
Should a man be worshipped as a god? Even one who performs signs and wonders, comes back from death or the brink of death? Does all this make him a god?
Pharoah of Egypt (his priests could perform miracles), Nebuchadnezzer, Alexander the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes (forced Greek culture upon Jews - abomination of desolation - died of appendicitis), Domitian, Diocletian – all claimed to be gods.
Question - Did true followers of God fear the power and might of these? Did they worship them as god? NO!!! Why? True followers of God saw them for who they really were - MEN. Man is not to be feared only God. Men are not to be worshipped only God.
Coming back from dead? Is coming back from the dead a prerequisite for making one a god. Been done before (a widow’s son, a Shunammite boy, Moabite man thrown onto Elisha’s bones, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, Tabitha) What’s the big deal? Should returning from death astonish and amaze the true followers of God? It’s the foundation of our faith!!! It should only astonish and amaze those who do not know the WORD.
So again here in verse 18 what is John telling us and those who will be living at this time about the beast? The AntiChrist will be a man not a god. Read Romans 8:35-39. The words in these verses are a promise true followers of God in the past (three Hebrew children, Moses, Daniel, the Maccabbees, the early church) and those during this time can stand on. Why they can refuse the mark. Why they can endure tribulation and death. They know there enemy is a man and only a man.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Revelation 7-12 pt. 2
Revelation chapter 12:1-6
6) What does John see and hear? A pregnant woman crying out in pain because she is about to give birth. A red dragon with seven heads wearing seven crowns and also having ten horns. Seven diadems on each horn.
7) Who is the pregnant woman? Common teaching is she symbolizes the nation of Israel. Twelve stars=Twelve tribes of Israel. Also based on who she gave birth to – a male child who will rule with a rod of iron. Who do you suppose he symbolizes? Jesus Christ – see Revelation 19:15. Jesus is a Jew.
8) Who is the red dragon? Satan. What words do you associate with description? Red – danger, blood. Dragon – large, powerful, evil
9) What do you think the first sentence in verse 4 is in reference to? Predominant teaching – Satan convinced one third of the angels to follow him in his rebellion against God.
10) What did the red dragon plan to do? Devour/kill the child. Why? He perceived Jesus to be a threat and was determined to remove that threat. Was he successful? No. The woman fled to safety where she was cared for by God.
Revelation 12:7-17
11) What images come to mind when you read the first sentence in verse 7?
12) What did Satan and his allies lose? Access to heaven. Up to those point, Satan was permitted entry into Heaven where he carried out his role as accuser of the followers of God. See Job chapters 1-2 and Zechariah chapter 3.
13) What names are associated with Satan in this chapter and what does each tell you about him? Great dragon – see answer to question 8; Ancient serpent – reference to Genesis. Satan entered the serpent, the craftiest creature in the Garden of Eden, in order to tempt Adam and Eve; devil and Satan – both mean Adversary/Accuser. Legal terms. A prosecutorial role; Deceiver of the whole world - Liar
14) What was Heaven’s reaction to Satan's defeat? Extreme joy. Great celebration.
15) What did Satan’s defeat mean for earth? Not good. He is mad and is going to take it out on earth. Why is he so upset? His time on earth is short.16) After his defeat, what did Satan do? Pursued after the woman (Israel.) He attempted to destroy her. Was he successful? No. She escaped him.
17) What was his next objective? Attack the woman’s offspring. Those who were loyal to God. Followed His commands faithfully and believed the words of Jesus.
Chapter 12 ends with Satan standing on the sand of the sea. He’s waiting for someone. We’ll meet that someone in two weeks.
6) What does John see and hear? A pregnant woman crying out in pain because she is about to give birth. A red dragon with seven heads wearing seven crowns and also having ten horns. Seven diadems on each horn.
7) Who is the pregnant woman? Common teaching is she symbolizes the nation of Israel. Twelve stars=Twelve tribes of Israel. Also based on who she gave birth to – a male child who will rule with a rod of iron. Who do you suppose he symbolizes? Jesus Christ – see Revelation 19:15. Jesus is a Jew.
8) Who is the red dragon? Satan. What words do you associate with description? Red – danger, blood. Dragon – large, powerful, evil
9) What do you think the first sentence in verse 4 is in reference to? Predominant teaching – Satan convinced one third of the angels to follow him in his rebellion against God.
10) What did the red dragon plan to do? Devour/kill the child. Why? He perceived Jesus to be a threat and was determined to remove that threat. Was he successful? No. The woman fled to safety where she was cared for by God.
Revelation 12:7-17
11) What images come to mind when you read the first sentence in verse 7?
12) What did Satan and his allies lose? Access to heaven. Up to those point, Satan was permitted entry into Heaven where he carried out his role as accuser of the followers of God. See Job chapters 1-2 and Zechariah chapter 3.
13) What names are associated with Satan in this chapter and what does each tell you about him? Great dragon – see answer to question 8; Ancient serpent – reference to Genesis. Satan entered the serpent, the craftiest creature in the Garden of Eden, in order to tempt Adam and Eve; devil and Satan – both mean Adversary/Accuser. Legal terms. A prosecutorial role; Deceiver of the whole world - Liar
14) What was Heaven’s reaction to Satan's defeat? Extreme joy. Great celebration.
15) What did Satan’s defeat mean for earth? Not good. He is mad and is going to take it out on earth. Why is he so upset? His time on earth is short.16) After his defeat, what did Satan do? Pursued after the woman (Israel.) He attempted to destroy her. Was he successful? No. She escaped him.
17) What was his next objective? Attack the woman’s offspring. Those who were loyal to God. Followed His commands faithfully and believed the words of Jesus.
Chapter 12 ends with Satan standing on the sand of the sea. He’s waiting for someone. We’ll meet that someone in two weeks.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Revelation 7-12 pt. 1
The Great Tribulation and the Seventh Seal
Read Revelation 7:1-8
1. What are the four angels told not to do until what happens? Do not harm the earth, seas, or trees until the 144,000 are sealed.
2. Why are the 144,000 sealed? For their protection. Read Ezekiel 9:1-10. In these verses, God is passing judgment on the Jews in Jerusalem for their many sins. He is pouring out His wrath upon them. Everyone in Jerusalem was to be killed except for those who had a mark upon their forehead. They were the few who were found righteous. The mark was the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, taw, which originally looked like an “X.” When the men God sent to execute His wrath saw the seal upon a person’s forehead they were not to harm that person. What God did to Jerusalem in Ezekiel chapter nine He will do to the entire world in Revelation. He is about to pass judgment on humanity. God is going to pour out His wrath on the world. Before He does, He places his mark (taw) upon the foreheads of 144,000 people so that they would be spared his wrath.
3. From where did the 144,000 come from? The Twelve Tribes of Israel. Some commentators on Revelation teach that the 144,000 are Jews who are believers. They acknowledge Jesus as their Savior/Messiah. Others teach that the 144,000 represent a remnant, a minority of people, who come to know Jesus and reject the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 7:9-17
4. What does John see and hear in verses 9-12? People from different nations, races, and languages clothed in white robes and holding palm branches (symbol of victory) worshipping Jesus.
5. Who are these people? They are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They came out of the tribulation with their robes washed clean and made white by the blood of Jesus. They have been cleansed of their unrighteousness and made righteous by the blood of Jesus. Define tribulation – a period of severe trial or suffering, oppression, persecution, affliction. Traditional teaching of the Great Tribulation – a seven year period when God pours out His wrath upon the world. The Antichrist uses the chaos that arises from God’s wrath to his advantage. He rises to power and proceeds to make war against everything that is of God. People who choose to follow the true Christ and reject the Antichrist are persecuted to the point of death. In, chapter 7:9-17 we see these martyrs receiving their reward. Questions: Will Jesus return before the Tribulation to take His followers so that they will not experience it? OR will Christians experience the Great Tribulation? The predominant teaching is that Christians will not experience the Great Tribulation. Jesus will return to earth prior to the Great Tribulation in an event known as the Rapture. This belief is based on verses found in I and II Thessalonians. Unbelievers who remain on earth will go through the Great Tribulation and be ruled by the Antichrist. However, a small remnant will choose to follow after Jesus and reject the Antichrist. They will be persecuted by the Antichrist to the point of death and enter heaven to receive their reward.
Summary of Revelation chapters 8-11
The seventh seal is opened. Seven trumpets are blown. After each is blown, various calamities afflict the earth bringing death and destruction. Point out verses of interest: Revelation 9:4 – people sealed by God were not to be harmed. Who were they? 144,000. Revelation 9:20-21 – Despite the calamities, what did people refuse to do? Repent. Revelation chapter 11, two men appear in Jerusalem and for three and a half years they speak the word of God. They perform miracles similar to those done by Moses and Elijah. They are put to death and their bodies are put on display like trophies. The world celebrates their death because the two were viewed as tormentors. After three and a half days God breathes life into the two and brings them to Heaven.
Read Revelation 7:1-8
1. What are the four angels told not to do until what happens? Do not harm the earth, seas, or trees until the 144,000 are sealed.
2. Why are the 144,000 sealed? For their protection. Read Ezekiel 9:1-10. In these verses, God is passing judgment on the Jews in Jerusalem for their many sins. He is pouring out His wrath upon them. Everyone in Jerusalem was to be killed except for those who had a mark upon their forehead. They were the few who were found righteous. The mark was the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, taw, which originally looked like an “X.” When the men God sent to execute His wrath saw the seal upon a person’s forehead they were not to harm that person. What God did to Jerusalem in Ezekiel chapter nine He will do to the entire world in Revelation. He is about to pass judgment on humanity. God is going to pour out His wrath on the world. Before He does, He places his mark (taw) upon the foreheads of 144,000 people so that they would be spared his wrath.
3. From where did the 144,000 come from? The Twelve Tribes of Israel. Some commentators on Revelation teach that the 144,000 are Jews who are believers. They acknowledge Jesus as their Savior/Messiah. Others teach that the 144,000 represent a remnant, a minority of people, who come to know Jesus and reject the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 7:9-17
4. What does John see and hear in verses 9-12? People from different nations, races, and languages clothed in white robes and holding palm branches (symbol of victory) worshipping Jesus.
5. Who are these people? They are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They came out of the tribulation with their robes washed clean and made white by the blood of Jesus. They have been cleansed of their unrighteousness and made righteous by the blood of Jesus. Define tribulation – a period of severe trial or suffering, oppression, persecution, affliction. Traditional teaching of the Great Tribulation – a seven year period when God pours out His wrath upon the world. The Antichrist uses the chaos that arises from God’s wrath to his advantage. He rises to power and proceeds to make war against everything that is of God. People who choose to follow the true Christ and reject the Antichrist are persecuted to the point of death. In, chapter 7:9-17 we see these martyrs receiving their reward. Questions: Will Jesus return before the Tribulation to take His followers so that they will not experience it? OR will Christians experience the Great Tribulation? The predominant teaching is that Christians will not experience the Great Tribulation. Jesus will return to earth prior to the Great Tribulation in an event known as the Rapture. This belief is based on verses found in I and II Thessalonians. Unbelievers who remain on earth will go through the Great Tribulation and be ruled by the Antichrist. However, a small remnant will choose to follow after Jesus and reject the Antichrist. They will be persecuted by the Antichrist to the point of death and enter heaven to receive their reward.
Summary of Revelation chapters 8-11
The seventh seal is opened. Seven trumpets are blown. After each is blown, various calamities afflict the earth bringing death and destruction. Point out verses of interest: Revelation 9:4 – people sealed by God were not to be harmed. Who were they? 144,000. Revelation 9:20-21 – Despite the calamities, what did people refuse to do? Repent. Revelation chapter 11, two men appear in Jerusalem and for three and a half years they speak the word of God. They perform miracles similar to those done by Moses and Elijah. They are put to death and their bodies are put on display like trophies. The world celebrates their death because the two were viewed as tormentors. After three and a half days God breathes life into the two and brings them to Heaven.
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