Lessons From Revelation – Lesson 11
After recapping what we learned from the 7 letters from Jesus
He is pleased with Charity, service, faith, patience, works, holding fast to the truth and not denying His name. As well as not being pleased with false teachers and lukewarmness.
Last week we went thru chapters 4 thru 9.
Between the last verse of Chapter 3 and the first verse of Chapter 4 what we call the rapture happens. All of the saved people get caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds. So one min. after the Rapture there are zero believers on the Earth.
We saw the scene switch to heaven where there is worship going on. In chapter 5 we are introduced to a book that has seven seals. In chapter 6 Jesus starts opening the seals. Peace is taken from the earth. And a famine comes, and then him that is called Death is released.
In chapter 6 we see those who will killed for their faith and we saw them call for justice upon them still on the earth. So the ones who killed them are still on the earth.
This is one of the places that we see that people will get saved during the tribulation and then quickly killed.
The 6th seal is a bad earthquake. Men are hiding and admit that there is a God and this is all happening because of Him that sits on the throne and because of the Lamb.
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?
Chapter 7 the 7th and final seal is held up.
The 7th seal will be 4 angels that will stop the wind from blowing on the earth and the sea. This will cause all kinds of problems. So much so that they are held up until the 144,000 whiteness are sealed for protection.
The few getting saved in the world are all getting killed and before they can witness very long. So God calls and then seals and gives some protection to 144,000 witnesses.
Then come 7 trumpets. And they are really bad. Hail and fire burn up 1/3 of the trees and all the grass. A burning mountain of fire is cast into the sea and 1/3 of all life in the sea dies and 1/3 of all ships are destroyed. A star falls from heaven and poisons 1/3 of all water.
Then God sends an Angel to actually fly through the air and declare to the people still alive that there is more to come. We know that a great number of men had been acknowledging that this is from God and now God sends an angel to confirm that.
Then supernatural creatures called locusts are released out of the bottomless pit. They can torment men but not touch the 144,000 witnesses.
The sixth trumpet sounds – four fallen angels are set loose that have been bound in the great river Euphrates.
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.
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.
Neither repented they of their murders. They were murdering anyone who got saved, and also murdering each other in wars. Nor repented 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.
The next major event we are going to look at is in Chapter 11
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
1,260 days is just under 3 ½ years. That is a long time in these conditions. The earth is full of murders who worship devils and money. People who are killing anyone that gets saved and they want these two dead.
You know it must be driving them mad that they first cannot kill the 144,000 witnesses and now these two show up.
There is debate about who these two are. Some say Moses and Elijah. Others say Elijah and Enoch. The reason is that it is appointed unto man once to die. Enoch and Elijah are the only two men who have never died. They both were taken up to heaven alive. And these two men will have special protection.
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
These two witnesses will be doing just that, witnessing and along with that witness they will be able to do signs and wonders. As you have noticed the 2 witnesses did not show up at the beginning of the tribulation.
The 7 seals have already happened and 6 of the trumpet judgments.
After going thru what has happened up until now I think it is safe to say that a whole lot of our technology that we have today has been wiped out. Even today it does not take a whole lot for a huge area to lose electric service. During the tribulation they have had wars and earthquakes and tsunamis large enough to destroy 1/3 of all ships. And the list goes on.
Supernatural beasts and the one called Death are killing and causing havoc. Much of the world does not have time to be repairing the electrical grid. There might still be some power in some parts of the world. Maybe.
And most likely all this time the ones doing the killing of those that get saved are also destroying every Bible they can find.
But God still wants to give people a chance to get saved. God wants His Word given to people. Even when doing this kind of judgment God cannot stop the offering of His Love, Mercy, and Grace.
So when it is the proper time the Two witness arrive on the scene. They last almost 3 ½ years but not all the way to the end.
The next few verses jump ahead and tell what happens to them at the end of 3 1/2 years.
11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
They will finish their testimony. They will not be killed until God decides that their mission is done.
And we see that the locusts are not the only thing released out of the bottomless pit. The beast also comes out of there.
11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
I said the evil people on the earth hatted them. They have a party and give gifts to each other because they died a horrible death.
11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
God Himself calls them home. And did it visibly so that people could see and did it loudly so people could hear. God was Himself verifying the message of those two witnesses. He was letting everyone know these are indeed my men with my message.
11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Who gave glory to God? It says the remnant. So a few people that heard the two witnesses believed and got saved and gave glory to God.
In chapter 12 we learn that when Satan fell he took 1/3 of the angels with him.
And then things get a whole lot worse. I know you might be thinking after all that has happened so far how can it get any worse. It starts with a war in heaven.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
The dragon is a name for Satan and his angels are his demons that followed him.
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Yep it just got worse. The Devil is cast down to the earth. Before he could walk the earth and then go to the throne in heaven and accuse Christians. He could come and go. But no longer. He is confined to earth with all of his wrath and hate.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Here we see that the 144,000 and the 2 witnesses had some success. We started the tribulation with zero Christians. Many were saved and killed along the way, but when the devil is cast down there are enough Christians to be called a remnant. So not a huge amount percentage wise, but enough for the devil to make war with.
Chapter 13 we have the two beasts.
Rev 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
So this beast gets his power from the wicked one.
Rev 12:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
It has been well said that the Devil likes to counterfeit God. Jesus died and then rose again. Here the devil does a counterfeit with the beast.
Rev 12:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 12:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
So this goes on for about 3/4 of a year.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
The beast is killing those who get saved. He is given the power to overcome the saints.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Everyone who is not saved will worship the beast and the devil. This is what they refer to as the one world religion. Counter to popular belief, it will not resemble any religion we have today. They will be worshipping a beast and the devil.
Now comes the second beast.
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Rev 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
A death sentence is given to anyone who refuses to worship the beast.
The tribulation has been going on a while now. And it took years before the devil is cast down and before the beast shows up and then the second beast.
Only now comes the mark of the beast. That would make sense wouldn’t it? You need to have the beast before you have the mark of the beast.
Many get this wrong today. They will say this is the mark of the best or this tech will be the mark of the beast one day. The mark of the beast does not come until the beast comes and that is somewhere about mid-way thru the tribulation.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
In chapter 14 we find out what happens to the 144,000 witnesses.
Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
So Jesus is now with the 144,000. Jesus has not come to earth yet. When Jesus puts His foot on the earth again He will start His 1,000 year reign. That means that this mount Zion is the one in Heaven.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Did you catch it? The 144,000 were redeemed from the earth. That means they are no longer there but in Heaven. And they are singing a song before the elders in heaven.
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
So now by this time the devil and his beasts are on the earth and the 144,000 witnesses have all been killed. The protection they had was from people and did not extend to the devil and his beasts.
I believe by this time the 2 witnesses are also overcome and are gone from the earth.
And the devil is waging war against the remnant of saved people left. I believe they don’t last long.
What happens next shows us something about our Lord.
The people left alive are without any witnesses of God and His truth and His offer to get saved. So watch what God does about that.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
God loves all men, and is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance, and since there are no men left to tell the gospel, He sends and angel to fly thru the air and preach the gospel.
When Jesus said, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
When Jesus said that He meant it. For God so loved the world. And it is a love that never stops, even when judgment is being poured out upon the earth. God must still have His gospel, His offer of salvation given to men.
And notice it is all men. This angel flies over and gives the gospel to every nation and every kindred, and every tongue, and every people.
God sends an actual angel to carry the Gospel out to every person left alive. No one is left out. While no human can do this, angels are powerful and this angel gets the job done. Everyone is given another chance to get saved.
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
And in the message he gives is the fact that God created. And then God sends a second angel after the first.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The second angel’s message is your great city is fallen. So that tells people that they cannot trust in their great city.
And then God sends a third angel.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 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.
The third angel tells them about hell and warns against worshipping the beast and his image and receiving the mark of the beast.
God cannot deny Himself; He cannot stop His love for sinners to get saved. He had all people given the gospel and then what the results of rejecting the gospel would be.
Today He calls us to give His word out. When we leave at the rapture there are still Bibles and tracts and websites around with the gospel, when those are gone God sends an angel and He calls and seals 144,000 witnesses and then Elijah and Enoch.
And when all of that is gone, God sends 3 angels one after the other to tell men and call men to repent. Does it work?
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 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.
He says henceforth. So from this time forward. So after the angels fly thru the air and give the message to all men. After that Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
So some people will listen and get saved. And then it says they may rest from their labors. So they also will get killed for getting saved.
If your eyes are open, you will see God working all thru the tribulation to get men saved.
That tells us a lot about our Lord. It tells us a lot about His love, mercy, and grace, and how true the verse is that says.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God truly wants everyone to get saved. He will not force them, but He still loves them and gives them chance after chance.
God wants His word to be delivered to all, and we see over and over again, when His word does go out, some do get saved. Not in mass numbers, but someone.
And we learn in Revelation that for many it took many times.
The ones who will get saved after the messages of the three angels. They also heard the first angel, they also heard the 144,000 witnesses, they also heard the 2 witnesses. They also seen all the judgments. And do not get saved until after the 3 angels, but they do get saved.
They had a seed planted and then along the way it was watered and then watered again.
This is the way it works. Some need more watering than others before they get saved.
This is why the Bible says. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
See more lessons from Revelation