Lessons From Revelation – Lesson 10
I personally got a lot out of our look at the 7 letters to 7 unique individual churches.
About 67 years passed since Jesus setup the New Testament church age. When Jesus ascended the New Testament church was an infant just born.
Jesus gave them the apostles to help get started and Jesus had several different men write new scripture to the churches to give them direction and instructions.
After 67 years under their belts and with receiving all of the New Testament (except Revelation) it was time to let them know how they are doing. And not just them. Those 7 letters are for any church to look at and learn how they are doing.
We learned that Jesus is pleased with the list of things in Rev 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
That is a great list. Charity, service, faith, patience, and works. Those should be at the heart of what any church is about.
We also learned that the motivation with which you do those things is critical. What Jesus had against the church at Ephesus was they had left thy first love. Love for the Lord Himself is actually the top priority. Our charity, service, faith, patience, and works needs to have the Love for Jesus at the heart of them all.
Jesus is also pleased when we hold fast to His truth and do not deny his name. And we learned that Jesus is not happy with Lukewarmness. We need to have some zeal for the things we do for Him. And we saw several times how Jesus is not pleased with false teaching.
If you think about it, Jesus is The Amen. He is truth, everything He speaks is truth. False teaching is teaching that goes against what Jesus says. Most false teaching will not come right out and say it, but in practical terms false teaching is saying we are right and Jesus is wrong.
False teaching leads people away from the truth that Jesus teaches and has consequences. One is without faith it is impossible to please Him. Teaching against what Jesus taught is not teaching in faith. It is the opposite, so a consequence of false teaching is that it is impossible for the false teachers to please God and it is impossible for those listening to them to please God.
I think that every Christian should be familiar with the 7 letters that Jesus wrote to those 7
We have already went verse by verse thru the first 3 chapters. It was important to take a close look at those letters. Continuing on we will not be going verse by verse and will take a survey level look at the rest of the book.
Last time we ended chapter 3 with He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Those were the last words of Jesus in the last letter to the churches. The word church will not be mentioned again until the end of the book. A church is a local assemble of believers. Not only with the word church not be mentioned again until the end, but you will not see an assembly of local believers until the end either.
That is because something happens after Rev. 3:22 and before Rev. 4:1. We need to understand what happens between those verses to be able to properly understand the rest of Revelation.
1 Thes 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1 Thes 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1 Thes 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thes 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
This is what we call the Rapture. The word rapture means to be caught up. Jesus will not come all the way to the ground, because of prophecy if He did that then He would have to split that mountain in two and set up His 1,000 reign. Not time for that yet.
So He comes in the clouds and takes all the believers with Him.
Question for you? One min. after the Rapture how many believers are left on the earth? The answer is none.
What are those left going to think?
2 Thes 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2 Thes 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
This is obviously talking about the end times. Lying wonders is referring to the false prophet and the beast, of the tribulation. So we know the context, the time that this is talking about.
2 Thes 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
So the people this is talking about had heard the love of the truth, that they might be saved. So these people heard the gospel, they heard the truth of how to be saved. And they refused.
2 Thes 2:11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Those that heard the gospel but refused, God will send them a strong delusion, and they will believe a lie.
2 Thes 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
They had pleasure in their sin and chose sin over Jesus. So God says ok, I confirm your choice right now. This is not how it works today. A person who rejects Jesus today is not confirmed in his choice until he dies. Until he takes his last breath the offer of salvation is open.
Once we are raptured out, things change. Anyone who heard the gospel and refused will have their choice confirmed while they are still alive and God will send them strong delusion and they will believe a lie.
What lie will they believe? We are not told. Dr. Orrino believed and many others with him, that the lie will include something about what happened to all those who were raptured.
Instead of believing in the God that raptured us they will believe in something else. Believing the lie will keep them from getting saved.
So before Rev. 4:1 all the Christians leave and those who heard the gospel before that moment and rejected it for sin, they are all sent a delusion and believe a lie and cannot get saved. Their choice is confirmed and set in stone by God.
So at the start of future events in chapter 4 there are two groups of people on the earth. Those who heard the gospel and rejected God. That group is believing a lie and no longer have a choice.
The second group is those who have not heard the gospel. Every one of those still have a chance to hear and get saved.
Rev. 4: 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Verse 1 tells us that everything we are now going to hear is in the future. John is caught up to heaven to see and hear about what will happen in the future after the rapture.
One of the first things that John sees is the throne of God and John tries to describe it but you can tell words fail. He keeps saying things were like unto, and like a. It is a scene full of wonder. And John sees the 24 elders.
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
In chapter 5 we are introduced to a book that has seven seals, and no person is found who can open the book but Jesus can.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
On a side note there will be a lot of singing in heaven. And people will get saved out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation. From every group from all over the world.
And a hint of what we will be doing during the 1,000 year reign. We will be kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. Towns will have to have mayors so to speak and regions will have governors and the priests were to be teachers of God’s Word.
So some of us will be rulers over larger areas than others and dealing with ruler type issues and some of us will be teaching the Word of God.
Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
One more side note. Hopefully you see that worship is falling down before God. Worship is never partying and lifting your arms up and making strange sounds. Anyway on to chapter 6
Jesus starts opening the seals. The first seal an angel is sent out on a horse to conquer. The second seal an angel is sent out on a horse to take peace from the earth. The third seal an angel is sent out on a horse and there is a famine.
Rev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
Now this is getting really bad. We now have wars and famine with the first seals and now we add Death and 25% of the earth is under the power of the one who sat on the black horse whose name was death.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Here we have people in heaven that were slain for their faith. They ask how long for justice and notice it says avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth. So the people who killed them for their faith are still on the earth.
The answer is basically there are more people who will get saved and then killed like you were. Justice upon those killing those who get saved will not take place until everyone who is to get saved gets saved. That is the foreknowledge of God at work. He knows each person that will get saved and He knows what message and conditions they need to get saved. Here even in Judgment God is working to save souls.
So we have all the Christians departed. Two groups remain. Those that heard and rejected salvation and they can’t be saved. They are believing a lie. Other people never heard and can get saved. And some do. How? There are most likely tracts still around, and Bibles in the homes and cars of the Christians that left. That is just speculation, I know. But somehow a few are still getting saved and then killed.
And I believe those that do get saved will witness to others until they are killed.
Then comes the 6th seal.
And with it is a great earthquake, and every mountain and island is moved out of their place. It’s real bad, but what I want to focus on is the reaction of many people.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Ok. Men of all types are listed here. They are experiencing this great earthquake. And who do they say is doing it.
Jesus. They say hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. So they not only know who is doing this, but they admit it. A large number of people are admitting that God is real, that He sits on a throne, and they admit that Jesus is finally executing judgment.
Remember this. This is important and will come up later.
Chapter 7 the 7th and final seal is held up.
Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Stop and think about that. What would happen if the wind no longer blows on the earth? This is talking about stopping the jet streams. The winds pass over the oceans and carry cool air and moisture onto the land. Rain clouds form and waters the earth. Climate wise this is devastating.
Rev 7:2 And 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 given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
This is important. The few getting saved with no Christians in the world are all getting killed. It appears that they don’t live very long to be able to witness. I think, and it is just that, something I think makes sense. Those in power who hate God enough to kill anyone who believes, I think they would be actively destroying all the bibles and tracts that they can find.
So access to the Word of God for people to get saved is being reduced. And what those in power are not destroying, the earthquakes and other disasters are.
So God calls and then seals with some protection 144,000 witnesses.
Now the scene turns back to Heaven. And people are praising God and worshipping Him. And then attention is given to a group of people in white robes.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
They came out of great tribulation. That means they were killed after the rapture.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Rev 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Chapter 8 Verse 1 the 7th seal is opened. And remember that is the one that stops the wind.
Then come 7 trumpets.
The first trumpet is hail and fire mingled with blood. 1/3 of the tress are burnt up, and all green grass is burned.
The second trumpet – a great mountain burning with fire is cast into the sea and 1/3 of all lie in the sea died and 1/3 of all ships are destroyed.
The third trumpet – a great burning star falls from heaven. It has a name, it is called Wormwood. 1/3 of all water became wormwood and many die because the water is poisoned.
The 4th trumpet – 1/3 part of the sun was smitten, and the moon, and stars.
In verse 13 God does something interesting.
Rev 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Remember many people are acknowledging that God is real and this is His judgment. So God sends an angel flying in the air declaring to those left alive a warning. This is confirmation that you are right. This is judgment from the true God and guess what. He is not done and it is going to get worse.
Why do this? I think it is a powerful, and visual call to repent. People will get to actually see an angel flying above them and get to hear his voice. They will get a powerful confirmation of the truth of God and what He is doing.
Why do this? God is still reaching out, still trying to get men to repent. Still giving them evidence and a chance to repent and believe.
Then comes the 5th trumpet Chapter 9
Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Sometimes in the Bible the word star is used for angels.
Rev 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
So right now. Today. In the bottomless pit, which is somewhere inside the earth, there are these locust creatures just waiting. Created long ago and in prison for a long time. They are going to be set lose upon the earth.
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
So the 144,000 were sealed and given protection from the destruction of stopping the wind form blowing and now we see they are also given protection from the locust creatures.
Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
Rev 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
The sixth trumpet sounds – four fallen angels are set loose that have been bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Here we have mentioned what God is trying to do alongside the judgment. At the same time that He is finally executing judgment upon the wickedness of the nations He is also at work trying to get men to repent.
Remember when the big earthquake hit, people admitted and recognized that all of this is happening because of God on the throne and because of the Lamb that was slain. Jesus. They full well know why all this is happening.
And after that they had an angel flying over the inhabitants of earth declaring that this is from God and there is more to come.
They know the score. They have all the verified information that they need. But instead of turning to God and repenting, they continue to worship devils, and money.
And notice these are really bad people that are left on the earth. Neither repented they of their murders. They were murdering anyone who got saved, and also murdering each other in wars. Nor of their sorceries, fornication, or thefts.
This shows the horribleness of the sin nature. What is called the depravity of man. Even with God executing judgment and even with the witness of an angel flying thru the air and even with 144,000 sealed witnesses telling them how to be saved. Man on a wholesale level refuses God and they refuse Him for devils, money, and idols.
We see the horribleness of what man can sink to without God in his life and we see the love of God still reaching out to them. Even when He is executing tremendous judgment, He cannot stop His love for man to get saved.
Since we see God still working and wanting and calling men to get saved, even in the tribulation. We can be totally confident that God is doing the same today.
See more lessons from Revelation