Revelation – Lesson 21 (Various Scriptures)

Romans 1:18-32; 3:10-20 – All Humanity Needs God’s Mercy

God can execute justice against sin as well as extend mercy to all sinners who accept Jesus’ salvation.  We see this throughout the book of Revelation.

What is justice?  Justice is the ethical idea that all people are to be treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law.

What is mercy?  Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone when it is within one’s power to punish or harm them.  It means “price paid”.

The Bible tells us that God exercises justice and mercy.  In Exodus 34:6-7 He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. But He doesn’t leave the guilty unpunished. 

In John 3:16-18 He loved the world so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus so we would not perish but have eternal life.  In 2 Peter 3:9 He is not slow in keeping His promises; He is patient not wanting anyone to perish, but wants all to repent.

I have received justice and mercy throughout my life.  He has blessed me in so many ways they are too numerous to count.  He gives me more good than I deserve.  When I really think about it, I am so grateful and humbled.  It makes me want to do better.

Humanity’s natural traits can be self-centered, selfish, deceitful, rebellious, wicked, evil, and sinful.   Jeremiah 17:9 says our hearts are deceitful and beyond cure.  Based on these traits we don’t deserve God’s mercy, but deserve His judgments.  Psalm 51:4 tells us that we have sinned and have done evil in God’s sight and deserved to be judged by Him.  Romans 3:23 tells us we all have sinned and fall short of His glory. 

Exodus 32; 33:12-14; 34:4-7 – Justice And Mercy Displayed in Old Testament.

God wanted to punish the Israelites when they worshiped the golden calf.  When Moses saw what they were doing, he was so angry that he broke the stone tablets with God’s commands.  But Moses interceded for them before God and God relented and showed justice and mercy.  To punish them God commanded them to arm themselves and go through the camp to kill those who were involved in the idolatry.  This was a lesser punishment and the people got what they deserved.  This showed justice and mercy.  God then gave Moses new stone tablets with His commands.  This reminds us of God’s justice and mercy that was demonstrated by Jesus’ death on the cross.

Romans 5:6-11; 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-10 – Justice And Mercy Displayed in New Testament.

Go perfectly expressed His justice and mercy despite our sinfulness and on-going transgressions at the cross.  He sent His own Son, Jesus to die in our place showing justice and mercy by the cross.  1 Peter 2:22-25 – “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

What should our response be?  Our response to God’s mercy should be to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  This is an act of worship.  Also we should not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so we are pleasing to God. (Romans 12:1-2).  We ought to be humble recognizing we are sinners and not think more highly of ourselves than others. (Luke 18:9-14). We should believe that God gives us eternal life through His Son, Jesus. (1 John 1:5-10)                                                                    

Next week we will study Revelation 17. –  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Revelation 15 – 16 – Lesson 20

In Revelation 15-16 we see the final outpouring of God’s wrath before Christ’s return.  Chapter 15 begins the preparation for the last seven judgments of His wrath.  His wrath begins in chapter 6; this chapter is an introduction to these last and final plagues on mankind.  This covers the last 3½ years of the Tribulation that is described in chapter 16.

Revelation 15:1-4 – Heavenly Worship

Seven angels prepare to give out the last seven Tribulation judgments.  These are called bowls that are full of God’s wrath.  No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are finished. (Rev. 15:8) 

John saw seven angels with seven last plagues.  “… the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” – Rev. 15:1b  Then he saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire.  Standing beside the sea where those who didn’t worship the image, but who had been faithful to God.  They are Tribulation Martyrs who were beheaded because they refused to submit to the Antichrist.    God had given the angels harps; they sang the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.  “Great and marvelous are you deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.  Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” – Rev. 15:3-4. 

They are celebrating God’s destruction of His enemies and the redemption of His people.  They praise Him for His excellent and perfect ways.  He is just and sovereign.  We are not to fear the world.  We are to fear God.  Fear is to show reverence to God.  “All nations will come and worship before you” refers to the time when Jesus returns and sits on the throne and rules the world.

Revelation 15:5-8 – Preparing for Judgment

After this John saw the temple in heaven.  The tabernacle of the Testimony was opened.  Out of the temple came seven angels with seven plagues dressed in clean linen and golden sashes.  One of the four living creatures gave each of the angels a golden bowl filled with God’s wrath.  The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and His power.  No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues were completed. (Rev. 15:5-8)  This shows that there is serious and severe judgment in progress.

Some people, even some Christians think God is only a God of love, but these angels are operating under God’s orders.  They are coming out of the temple and clothed in white indicating they are not demon angels, but God’s angels.  Seven shows the completeness of it all.  God will put an end to sin once and for all.  When these seven plagues are over, Christ will return.

Revelation 16:1-14 – Six Bowls of God’s Judgment

John heard a loud voice from the temple, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” – Rev. 16:1  This is the voice of God, because He alone has the right to initiate judgment.  He alone is holy, righteous, and just.  These bowls contain the anger of God.

1^st angel – his bowl is poured out on the land and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. (Rev. 16:2)  This shows God’s grace by not bringing judgment on believers.  He will protect them just as He did the Israelites during the plagues of Egypt.  In Exodus 9:8-11 God sent soot over Egypt and festering boils broke out on the people and animals.

2^nd angel – his bowl was poured on the sea and it turned to blood and everything in the sea died. (Rev. 16:3)  Now everything in the sea is dead.  Can you image the stench and potential for disease?  In Exodus 7:14-25 God turned the waters into blood.

3^rd angel – his bowl is poured out on the rivers and springs of water and they became blood. (Rev. 16:4)  This may or may not be literal blood, but if Christ can turn water to wine, He can turn water to blood.  The important thing is the water will not be fit to drink and will breed disease.  The angel tells us that justice is served and that He is just in these judgments because He is the Holy One.

4^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the sun which scorched people with fire.  The people refused to repent. (Rev. 16:8-9)  Even with lack of water and this great heat people did not fall to their knees and repent.  Have you ever had a bad sunburn?  Well, I am sure it was nothing like this.  They probably were covered with painful sores and blisters. In Deuteronomy 28:22 the people were struck with diseases, fever, inflammation, scorching heat and drought, blight and mildew.

5^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.  Men cursed God because of their pains and sores, but still refused to repent. (Rev. 16:10-11)  This will be world-wide.  God sent darkness during the plagues of Egypt in Exodus 10:21-23.  This is an illustration of their spiritual darkness, too.  I am sure this brought depression, suicides and all sorts of evil attacks on the mind.  Jesus predicted this, “But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.” – Mark 13:24  Where is their Antichrist now?

6^th angel – his bowl is poured out on the great river Euphrates and its water dried up.  Then he saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs come out of mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.  These spirits of demons perform miraculous signs and go out to the kings of the world to gather them for a great battle against God called Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16)  These spirits will have power to do miracles just like the Egyptian magicians copied Moses’ miracles, but God has limited their power.  This river was a boundary between the east and the west.  The river was dried up so the kings of the east could cross for the “battle on the great day of God Almighty”, Armageddon.  They would join forces with armies all over the world to battle the King of Kings.  (We know who wins.)  In Exodus 8:1-15 God sent the plague of frogs over the land.

What do these judgments say about God’s power?  These judgments prove that God is all powerful and can do anything He wants over His creation. The beast’s followers are like Pharaoh; they harden their hearts and blasphemed God.

Revelation 16:15-21 – Seventh Bowl of God’s Judgment

Jesus Himself speaks in Rev. 16:15, “Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”  We as believers must be alert as we wait for Him to return.  Remain clothed means to remain true to Jesus.  We have been clothed with His righteousness and we are to continue to live a transformed life.  We are to remain clothes with His character.  We need to be ready by repenting of sin and believe in Jesus for salvation.

7^th angel – his bowl is poured out into the air which is the final judgment.  A voice came out of the temple from the throne said, “It is done!”  This voice is probably God Himself.  Then lightning, thunder and earthquake occurred.  No earthquake like it has ever occurred.  The city split into 3 parts and the cities of the nations collapsed.  Islands and mountains disappeared.  Huge hailstone fell upon men.  They cursed God. (Rev. 16:17-21)  God’s final judgment will end with a great earthquake.

These judgments are like the ten plagues in Egypt when God got rid of their false gods.  In this final judgment He will get rid of all untruths, all sin and all that is against Him.  These judgments are clearly supernatural and everyone will know they are from God.  Instead of falling down and repenting, they curse God.  They refuse to change their ways.  Their hearts are hard and stubborn.  They should have turned from their sin and praised God.  With all these plagues, deaths and sufferings the people still did not repent.  Can you image?  What were they thinking?  Talk about being stubborn.  God gave them every chance to repent.  He gives people today every chance to repent, but some are too stubborn and do not repent. 

We are to “stay awake”.  Matthew 24:43-44 and Mark 13:32-37 tell us to keep watch, be ready, be on guard, and be alert, because we don’t know when Jesus will return.  It will be when we do not expect Him.  2 Peter 3:10 tells us the day of the Lord will come like a thief; no one knows when He is coming. 

To “remain clothed” means to stay godly and holy with kindness, humility, and patience.  Keep your godly virtues.  Behave decently.  Continue to be like Christ.

God’s love and His wrath are hard to understand.  God loves all people, but He cannot tolerate sin.  God deals with sin through judgment.  His wrath is His response to sin.  His judgment is a part of His love.  There can be no true love without judgment for sin.  His judgment is an act of love with the purpose of restoring holiness and moral order in a fallen world.

Principle:  God’s final judgment will be devastating, purposeful, and complete.

We all deserve these judgments, but Jesus stood in our place.  Jesus will return!  Will you be ready?  I hope this study will open your eyes before it’s too late.  God is patiently waiting for you to repent and surrender to Him.  – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

 Next week we will continue our study of Revelation, which covers the specifics of when Babylon is destroyed. 

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Revelation 14 – Lesson 19

 

Revelation 14 is a preview of the destruction of unbelievers.  It’s a fast forward of what will happen in the end, which we will see in the following chapters. 

Revelation 14:1-5 – The Faithful Believers

John saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.  With Him were the 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.  John heard a roar like rushing waters and a loud peal of thunder.  He also heard a sound like harpists singing a new song before the throne and before the 4 living creatures and elders.  No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth.  They didn’t defile themselves with women but kept themselves pure and followed the Lamb wherever He goes.  No lie was found in them; they are blameless.   (Rev. 14:1-5)

Who are these 144,000?  They are the same as those in chapter 7.  John is describing them in more detail here.  They were sealed with God’s name on their foreheads and in their hearts and minds.  They have victory over the beast and his mark.  They are redeemed from the earth.  They are God’s people who have withstood the attack of Satan.  The church is often referred to as a woman.  Not defiled with women means they did not accept the doctrines of the corrupt church.  God often speaks of the purity of His people in terms of sexual immorality.  These 144,000 have not been compromised by the world, but remain loyal as a virgin bride to the future groom.  They remain pure toward Christ.

Followers of the Lamb have a distinct character in the way they live (1 Corinthians 6:16-20; Ephesians 5:1-11; Philippians 2:1-6; 1 John 1:9-10) …

They realized their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and were bought with a price and so they honor God.

They imitate God and live a life of love as Christ loves.

They don’t engage in sexual immorality, impurity, or any kind of greed.

They do what pleases the Lord.

They do nothing out of selfishness.

They are humble and consider others better than themselves.

They know they sinned, but have repented and they believe and trust in Jesus as Savior.

Revelation 14:6-13 – The Three Angels

John saw three angels who proclaimed the eternal gospel message to every person, nation, tribe, language and people.  This eternal gospel was that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, and that He appeared to Peter and the twelve as well as many others.

We’re also told in Matthew 28:18-20 if we are followers of Jesus Christ we are to tell go tell others and teach them to obey the Scriptures and promises He will always be with us.

The 1^st angel was flying and proclaiming the eternal gospel to all the people of the earth.  “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.” – Rev. 14:7  He is warning people to fear or respect God instead of the Antichrist and to give God the glory, not the antichrist.  This is good news to those who receive and obey it, but bad news to those who reject it.  This seems to be God’s last offer to proclaim Jesus as Lord before the final wrath to come.

The 2^nd angel followed, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” – Rev. 14:8  I think the Babylon here is not a literal city, but a world system that opposes the church and Christians.  Babylon is symbolic of the world and its evil system.

The 3^rd angel followed, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.  He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment rises for ever 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.” – Rev. 14:9-11  As we studied before those who have the mark on their forehead belong to the beast.  Just as the 144,000 are sealed and belong to God by His name being on their foreheads, these who take to mark are sealed for Satan.  There will be torment that will not last for a short time, but forever.  There will be no end!  This forever is just as heaven is forever for believers.  They will drink God’s wrath undiluted.  His judgment is not going to be watered down.  They will receive the full force of God’s anger.  There will be people who will be deceived and take the mark.  The angel is pointing out the consequences of those who do so.

“This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” – Rev. 14:12  He is giving believers another call for endurance.  They are not to give in to the temptation to worship the beast, but to remain faithful even to death.  “Write:  blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” – Rev. 14:13.  These are the tribulation martyrs- those who die during the tribulation.  God will compensate them for their faithfulness.  John was told to write that those who die during the Tribulation as martyrs will be blessed and reign with Christ during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4)

Revelation 14:14-20 – The Harvest

John saw a white cloud with one like a son of man sitting on it.  He had a golden crown and a sharp sickle. (Rev. 14:14) Then another angel came out of the temple and called out, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” – Rev. 14:15  Coming out of the temple shows he has the authority and is speaking directly from God.  So he swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.  The crown on the one like a son of man shows his authority.  I think this is a representative of Jesus.  Also Matt. 13:39 says at the end of the age the reapers are angels.

Another angel came out of the temple with a sickle.  Then another angel called in a loud voice, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” – Rev. 14:18.  Again the angel is speaking directly from God.  The angel swung his sickle and gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.  They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out, rising as high as horses’ bridles for 200 miles. 

The sickle is judgment.  The wine press is God’s wrath.  The clusters of the vine or grapes represent the unbelievers of the earth, those who have followed and worshipped the Beast.  It was outside the city that Jesus died so God will punish the people outside the city.  The city was Jerusalem.

Sounds like a horrible sight and place to be.  Only the Lamb can rescue you from God’s wrath.  God has perfect justice.  We all deserve God’s wrath and we all need the gospel.  The Lamb offers escape from His wrath that will last forever.  If you are a believer, thank God for His grace and mercy He has given you that you will not have to endure this.  If you have not yet become a follower of Christ, I hope this wakes you up.  See the bottom of this blog page for the plan of God’s salvation.

Principles:  

When we believe in Jesus as Savior, we will not have to be afraid of God’s judgement.

Only those saved by Jesus will escape God’s wrath.

Next week we will study Revelation 15-16.  – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Revelation – Lesson 18 (Various Scriptures)

 

Suffering

Suffering has been and will be a part of our lives until Jesus returns.  Suffering is a great mystery known only to God.  We know that God is just, wise and powerful.  All people suffer because we live in a fallen sinful world.  Suffering humbles us and benefits us.  Jesus promised that in this world, we would have trouble, but to take heart, because He has overcome the world.  We must trust God in our suffering; He has a plan that is ultimately leading to salvation.

Romans 8:18-25 gives us hope when we suffer.  Our sufferings cannot compare to the glories that will be revealed at some future time to saved believers.  Those endless glories must be incomprehensibly wonderful, satisfying, and meaningful.

Jesus suffered physically and well as great humiliation through betrayal, torture and then death on the cross.  God made Him to be sin; He was treated as sin itself for our sake.  He was sent by God to die for us. (Isaiah 53:10-11; Matthew 16:21; Acts 2:23; Romans 4:25)

Why do we suffer?  We suffer sometimes because we are disobedient to God.  Sometimes it’s a test of our faith.  Sometimes we need to be broken in order for God to build us up.  Sometimes it is to encourage others.  Sometimes it’s simply because we live in this evil world.  Suffering reminds us of our dependence on the Lord.  God allows suffering because He want us to be more like Christ, to fully rely on Him, and to see His glory on display.  We are children of God, His heirs; we share in His inheritance so we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. 

These passages tell us what suffering does for us:

Psalm 73:26-28 – when we suffer, we’re brought closer to God because we know He is our refuge.

Proverbs 3:11-12 – when we suffer, we know God loves us.

Romans 5:3-4 – we are to rejoice in suffering, because it produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 8:17 – we are heirs with Christ and will share in His glory, so we should share in His suffering.

Romans 8:28-30 – all things, even suffering, work together for good.

Philippians 3:8-9 – nothing else should compare to Christ; like Paul our single goal should be Christ.

Hebrews 5:8-9 – we learn obedience through suffering.

God equips His people for suffering which gives us hope:

Psalm 23 – God gives us great provisions and blessings.

Matthew 11:28-29 – when we are weary and burdened, God will give us rest.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – God is faithful and will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.

2 Corinthians 12:6-10 – we should delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties; when we are weak Jesus makes us strong.

Hebrews 4:14-16 – we should have confidence in Jesus, because He can sympathize with our weaknesses.

Revelation 21:4 – one day there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Since God equips us in our suffering, we should:

John 15:12 – love one another as Jesus loves us.

1 Peter 4:12-19 – we should not be surprised when we suffer, but rejoice that we are participating in the suffering of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – He comforts us in our suffering and suffering produces patient endurance.

Principles:  

God equips His people for suffering.

God strengthening His people in their suffering.

God allows suffering because He want us to be more like Christ, to fully rely on Him, and to see His glory on display.

Next week we will study Revelation 14.  – I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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