REVELATION LESSON 31

REVELATION

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

REVELATION 14:8   ⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’^[a] which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

The second angel makes another pronouncement, that God is going to judge the wicked. A second angel will follow and say, “fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, which made all the nations drink all the wine of her adulteries. The announcement of Babylon’s fall does not indicate that the end of the great tribulation has come, but rather an announcement of the future destruction of Babylon described later in Revelation 18.

Babylon is known as the city of Satan because of its long history of idolatry, witchcraft, and other occult practices. It is the birthplace of many false doctrines and religions such as goddess worship.

In Acts 2:13 the new believers of Christ were accused of being drunk on new wine, however they were actually being filled with the Holy Spirit. In that chapter wine is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In this chapter the wine of the wrath of her fornication is a reference to demonic possession, making the nations drink this maddening wine is a reference to Babylon’s forcing her satanic inspired false religion on the world.

The ancient city of the old Babylon died out many centuries ago. During the 1980’s and 1990’s Saddam Hussein poured hundreds of millions of dollars into rebuilding it. The rebuilt city will become a greater center of religion and trade during the tribulation period. The false prophet will locate the headquarters of his false religion there.

When the second angel declares the fall of Babylon, this will be the judgment of the old testament prophet’s prediction, it must come to pass. Babylon’s fascination with the occult and her spread of a one world harlot religion will bring the world class fall.

The word fallen is repeated twice to mean two separate falls or judgments. The false religion system will fall first when the antichrist turns on it just after the midpoint of the tribulation period.

The rebuilt city of Babylon will fall again when it is burned to the ground in one hour near the end of the tribulation period. We will talk more on this later in this study.

Again, and again people are saying wouldn’t it be great if we just had one big church. In these last days coming they will have their one big church, but it won’t be so great. It will be a federation of God defying, Christ denying apostate religious leader.

Revelation 14:9   ⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand,

A third angel will fly through the air with a third announcement. This announcement will concern those who worship the antichrist, worship his image and take his mark. As said before, the first angel will preach the gospel and plead with the people to worship God.

The second angel will announce the fall of Babylon, this third angel will warn people not to worship the antichrist or take the mark of the beast.

Revelation 14:10   ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

Since the city of Babylon is going to be the head quarters of the false prophet, Babylon will make all the nations drink of the wine, the wrath of God, those who drink the wine will have unimaginable torment. Burning sulfur, this burning sulfur will increase the temperature of a fire and raise the level of suffering. All should heed this warning, following the antichrist and worshiping him will stir the wrath of God.

A big part of this will be their suffering in the presence of the holy angels that warned them. It is bad enough to suffer in front of the lamb who died for the sins of the world, and even more to suffer in front of the angels who warned them.

Revelation 14:11-12   ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

¹² Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image. Or, for anyone who receives the mark of his name. this calls for patient and endurance on the part of the saints who obey Gods commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.

Revelation chapter 14: 13   ¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

This is a passage of scripture that applies only to those who die in the great tribulation. The last three- and one-half years, it is not intended to be a universal recognition of death being a blessing.

Because these saints who are martyrs and died in the Lord, or died in saving faith through Christ Jesus, they rest from their labors and their works do follow them. Here we see again that a day is coming when believers will be rewarded because of their faithfulness to the Lord. A just God will bring forth justice and equity in eternity.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

Revelation Lesson 30

Revelation

Lesson 30

Are We Living in the End Times?

Revelation 14:4   ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

These 144,000 will remain pure during the tribulation period in spite of living in a world filled with immorality and fornication. They are the ones who will follow the Lamb wherever he goes: this means they will abide in his presence.

They will not stray away form the will or teachings of Jesus. These were redeemed from among men, means they have been bought with the blood of Jesus.

Being first fruits to God and to the Lamb means they will be the first Jews saved during the tribulation period, with more fruit to follow.

Revelation 14:5   ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

Being truthful characterizes the 144,000. They will have nothing to do with the lies of the antichrist, or the counterfeit doctrines of the false prophet. They will be faithful to God and clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Revelation 14:6   ⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

This verse introduces us to the first of the angels who proclaim a special message to the world. What is this everlasting gospel the angels preached: the word gospel here simply means “Good news”. It is also called glad tidings. The good news always includes the message of the blood in every dispensation, Christ gave witness to all the prophets that through his name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of their sin. 

In addition to proclaiming the everlasting gospel, the angel announces that all those who have rejected the message of Jesus for the mark of the antichrist are about to be bombarded with a series of judgments from God himself.

This is the first of several angels that appear in this chapter. Just when Satan and the antichrist and the false prophet think they are about to take over the world, God will send angels to keep his plan on track.

Today the church is responsible for the proclamation of the gospel, but that will change after the rapture. Jesus said, 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. Because the church will be in heaven.

Matthew 24:14   ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

God will use the 144,000 Jews, the two witnesses and even an angel to spread his message. He will go to great lengths to give the world one last chance to be saved.

So, what will the angel preach? The fact that it is called the everlasting gospel is an indication that it is identical to the gospel the church preached. Some try to separate the gospel into different categories. The gospel of grace, the gospel of the kingdom and the gospel of judgment, The everlasting gospel, Paul’s gospel, but all of these are part of the same gospel.

Revelation 14:7   ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

People will have two choices, believe the antichrist and his lie and worship him, or fear God alone and give him all the glory and praise. Choosing the antichrist can only lead to spiritual death, but choosing to follow God will lead to spiritual life, eternity with God.

Fearing God means giving him reverence for his glory. The hour of judgment has come, worship Him who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.

Just as the future holds a time of reward and blessing for the 144,000. It will hold judgment on the wicked who depart from God and blaspheme His name.

What does it really mean to fear God? Satan would have you believe it means to be afraid of God. That is not what it means. Fearing God means to have a holy respect for him. Believe he exists and believe he reigns and that He will judge all mankind. This kind of fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and it pleases God.

Psalms 111:10   ¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
    To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalms 112:1-3 ¹ Praise the Lord.^[b]

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.

² Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy

REVELATION LESSON 29

REVELATION

LESSON 29

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

Revelation 13:18   ¹⁸ This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[a] That number is 666.

Scripture tells us that in the future a one world system of government will require every person to receive a mark in his or her right hand or in their foreheads. Without this mark of the beast no one will be permitted to buy or sell.

In years past few could envision such a system. We did not have the technology in the past to accomplish this. Today we do have that technology. The system is not only viable now but plausible.

Scripture is very clear that those who do not receive the mark will be killed. A push of a button on the computer will tell who has the mark and who does not.

The reason Satan wants to use the mark is it’s a counterfeit of the mark that God will give to the 144,000 Jews. The reason the mark is given is also to extend favors to those who support the world government. It will help to identify and eliminate the opposition to the world government, it will track and control commerce, people will be expected to stop worshiping God and worship the antichrist. This mark will permanently tie people to the kingdom of the antichrist. The people who take this mark will face the wrath of God.

So just what is the mark of the beast? We only actually know that six is the number of a man. Because man was created on the sixth day. Scripture tells us that it comprises the number 666.

Many are so caught up trying to figure out who the antichrist is that they lose all sight of using any wisdom. Daniel told of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans and said the antichrist will come out of those people. The antichrist will not be revealed until after the rapture.

Revelation 14:1-2   14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

After the rise of the antichrist and the false prophet, John now sees Jesus standing on mount Zion in Jerusalem with his 144,000 Jewish evangelists gathered around him. God is showing the world a great miracle. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists are being sealed.

This will happen between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals. The seventh seal will produce the seven trumpet judgments. One third of the earth and the trees will burn up. One third of the sea will turn to blood. One third of all ships will be destroyed. One third of the fresh water will be polluted. The moon will be diminished. The antichrist will kill multitudes and try to eliminate the Jewish people.

The antichrist will also try to stop the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists. But not even one of them will die. They will hold worship services in the middle of the city and not even be afraid. The name of God written on their foreheads will protect them from every judgment and the attacks of the Antichrist and his followers.

The followers of the antichrist will be the ones who have the mark of the beast, the name or number somewhere on their head or hand. The mark will be worthless when they stand before Jesus at the judgement. Everyone of them will perish.

The Lord Jesus Christ is going to be victorious over the world. He is going to triumph over evil and bring righteousness and Godliness to the earth. The kingdom of God will reign upon Earth. This is the reason Jesus suffered and died. So, he can return victorious and stamp out this ungodliness of the world.

Revelation 14:2   ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.

Singing will be heard in heaven. They will be singing for the 144,000 who stand unhurt on mount Zion they have survived the disasters of the antichrist and the false prophet.

Revelation 14:3   ³ And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

The Heavenly multitude will sing a new song before the throne of God. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. No one will understand their song but the 144,000.

Often, we sing songs and don’t really understand what the writer was trying to represent in the words. We would have needed to be there to understand what inspired them. The next two verses give and idea of the demands placed on the 144,000 that enables them to understand this new song. This will be addressed in our next lesson.

Make note that the 144,000 were redeemed from the earth. These will be Jewish young men who have accepted Jesus as the messiah. They will be recipients of the grace of God having been purchased by the blood of Jesus and set free from the penalty of their sin.

Until our next lesson,

Stay in the word.

Brother Andy.

REVELATION LESSON 28

REVELATION

LESSON 28

ARE WE LIVING IN THE END TIMES?

REVELATION 13:16-17   ¹⁶ It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, ¹⁷ so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Many prophecy experts can see the results of the number and the mark of the beast as a cashless society. Today the governments of the world want to eliminate our paper and coin money so that all transactions can track all buying and selling.

Perhaps some of the most fanciful suggestions for prophetic interpretation revolve around the meaning of this number. The text does not indicate that it somehow will mathematically speak the name of the antichrist. since the number will not be revealed until the middle of the revelation period and the church will be raptured out by then, it seems more likely that we, the church, will not be given a hint as to the full meaning or even the name of the antichrist.  

The mark of the beast is not my number, your number or even the number of anyone that can be identified at this time. I don’t think it will be your driver’s license number, social security number or even a national I.D. number.

It is not a different number for different people. It is the same mark, name or number for everyone. It is the mark, name or number of the antichrist.

Revelation 13:17   ¹⁷ so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Those who take the mark are accepting the antichrist as god. They are choosing the beast over Jesus, thereby refusing Gods offer of salvation, mercy, forgiveness and love. This will be the end of their opportunity to be saved. Everything that is needed in the form of chips and systems to enforce the mark is available at this time. These will be powerful chips, scanners the antichrist will use to keep track of everything that goes on in the world.

Chips were placed in the bodies of many of those who died in the southeast of Asian tsunami. They are placing chips in many people in several countries.

Some international financial experts are saying the coming one world government will have its own one world currency.

The global government will force people to use it by making it illegal to buy and sell in any currency except the new world currency and every transaction will include ones national global I.D number.

Bio pay systems are gaining wider acceptance and use. These systems use fingerprints and eye scan technology to debit purchases from their customers bank accounts. They offer great protection against identification theft and relieve the customer from carrying credit cards. Businesses receive their money immediately with added advantage of not getting stuck with bad credit.

These things are not the mark of the beast, but they are a giant step in that direction because they establish a system to track the buying and selling of people. One push of the computer button will provide a list of those who have taken the mark and of those who haven’t taken the mark. Scripture tells us that in the future a one world system of government will require every person to receive a mark in his or her right hand or in their forehead.

Without this mark of the beast, no one would be able to buy or sell. In years past few could envision how such a system could be. The technology at that time was not advanced enough for people to see it. Now such a thing is not only viable but probable.

Stay in the word,

Until next time,

Brother Andy